Sperm characteristics are an important indicator of male reproductive function. These include the volume of the ejaculate, its color, smell, consistency, sperm count, motility and other indicators. If they go beyond the norm, it becomes problematic to have children naturally without the help of doctors.
We determine the quality of sperm ourselves
According to World Health Organization standards, the serving size of healthy ejaculate should be between 2 and 6 ml. A smaller amount usually indicates inhibition of the function of the genital appendages, and excessive volume is most often observed during inflammatory processes.
“You can measure your semen volume yourself. Just buy a jar for collecting biological material at the pharmacy – there are pictures there, you can use them to determine whether everything is normal. You can also focus on a 2 ml syringe, “an embryologist from the Department of Assisted Reproductive Technologies of the National Research Center No. 2 of the Russian Scientific Surgical Center told socialbites.ca. akad. BV Petrovsky Tatiana Ivanova.
Normally, sperm should have a milky white, sometimes grayish color. However, if there are foreign substances that are yellow, green or brown in color, you should definitely consult a doctor. They can indicate pathological processes in the body.
“The color should be milky grey. If the color looks reddish or brownish, this is an admixture of blood. This happens, for example, with injuries or tumors. If the color is yellow or greenish, this is a mixture of leukocytes, i.e. pus. This is already a sign of some kind of inflammatory process. Then you need to urgently go to a urologist-andrologist, because it’s really bad,” Ivanova explained.
Very clear fluid is also a reason to be careful because it may not contain enough sperm. It is because of them that the sperm has a cloudy color.
If the violation is easy to determine by color, it is much more difficult to do it by taste. According to Ivanova, some studies indicate that the taste of ejaculate depends more on what a person eats than on sperm quality.
“I am not sure if this parameter can somehow be used to evaluate the condition of the sperm, but if it is flimsy or completely disturbing then it is advisable to consult a doctor,” the embryologist said.
Not everything is so simple with smell either. According to Dmitry Korolev, urologist-andrologist, associate professor at the Institute of Urology and Human Reproductive Health, sperm a priori has a specific smell, so determining deviation from the norm will be problematic. But if a sharp, alkaline, unpleasant aroma appears, this may be a signal to see a doctor.
“Also, an indicator such as liquefaction time is also important. With this indicator you can understand whether everything is okay or not. Over time, sperm liquefies; Normally this occurs no later than 20-30 minutes after ejaculation. But sometimes this does not happen, then we talk about increased viscosity. This makes it difficult for the sperm to reach the egg,” said Korolev.
Usually the viscosity of sperm is determined using a special glass rod. The doctor puts it in a container containing the semen and slowly lifts it up. Normally the length of the resulting thread does not exceed two centimeters. If sperm liquefaction does not occur, this of course affects the possibility of conception, because for fertilization the sperm must have high mobility and its movement in a viscous liquid is difficult. If sperm viscosity is increased, you should consult an andrologist.
What will the spermogram show?
The quality of sperm is also affected by such indicators as the number of sperm per 1 ml, their motility, viability and morphology (structure). However, you cannot monitor these parameters yourself; For this, you will need to have a spermogram.
“Normally, at least 39 million sperm are needed for pregnancy. 1 ml of ejaculate must contain at least 15 million sperm and at least 40% of them must be motile. Progressive mobility is also assessed; It is important that at least 32% moves forward rather than in place. And at least 52% must be applicable. In terms of morphology, at least 4% must also be normal for a natural pregnancy,” Korolev explained.
According to the expert, these features are important because they help the sperm reach the egg. They have to go a certain way: They have to enter the uterus, pass through the mucus plug in the cervix, then pass through the mucus in the uterine cavity, and then pass through the fallopian tubes. Most of the sperm die on the way.
“In addition, when the sperm reaches the egg, it needs to dissolve the corona radiata, which is the shell of the egg, with the enzymes found in the head. To do this, there must be a large number of them, and the fastest one will eventually fertilize the egg. Korolev noted that sometimes there was one, sometimes two, even three.
Moreover, most of the sperm die in the vagina due to the pH difference. The acidic environment of the vagina has a suppressive effect on the viability and motility of sperm.
“Normally, sperm is alkaline and the environment in the vagina is acidic. This is a natural barrier and lots of sperm are needed to overcome it. But when the acidity of the ejaculate is exceeded due to pathological processes, we refer the man to an andrologist-urologist. If for some reason a woman’s cervical mucus remains unchanged and viscous during ovulation, then this condition can be considered a factor of cervical infertility and can be overcome with the help of artificial insemination: during the ovulation period, the partner donates sperm; is processed and a sperm suspension is injected into the uterine cavity using a syringe with a catheter; this procedure is painless and does not require anesthesia,” said Ivanova.
There are also abnormalities in the structure of the sperm. According to Korolev, sperm has a head, body and tail. However, sometimes abnormalities such as a double tail or a very small head can occur.
“It’s bad for mobility. However, these are all structural anomalies, they are not genetic and therefore do not affect the subsequent development of the embryo and yes, they do not affect the ability of the sperm to reach the egg. Therefore, sometimes when a man has low sperm, he has to work with what he has and use the defective ones,” Korolev said.
But Ivanova noted that some studies have linked such abnormalities to poor pregnancy outcomes.
“There are studies that say if a man has a large number of pathological sperm forms, his risk of miscarriage increases by 10%. We cannot establish a clear connection between miscarriage and sperm disorders; pregnancy may be interrupted even if there is normal sperm. But such studies still exist,” explained the expert.
What makes sperm worse?
There are many external factors that can affect sperm quality. This includes smoking, consumption of alcoholic beverages, drugs, as well as stress, lack of physical activity, excess body weight, as well as some diseases associated with hormonal and metabolic disorders.
“Among the diseases, for example, varicocele, which is varicose veins in the scrotum area, may stand out. Also no less important is the temperature of the scrotum – its temperature is one degree lower than the rest of the body. This is necessary for normal sperm maturation. When the temperature rises, sperm quality is negatively affected. The temperature inside can be increased by going to the bathhouse and wearing tight, thick underwear. Therefore, “family clothes” are considered the safest underwear for men, Korolev said.
Ivanova also emphasized that the reason why sperm quality in men is worse than in winter and autumn is precisely because it is hot in summer.
According to Alan Dzusov, a urologist at the European Medical Center (EMC), anabolic steroids also worsen sperm quality because they affect the body’s hormonal balance. Therefore, sperm quantity and quality may decrease.
Lifestyle changes such as losing weight and increasing physical activity, quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption increase sperm count. What is required if you aim to become a father?
“When planning to become a father, it is important for overweight men to normalize their weight: Fat tissue produces the female sex hormone estrogen, and its excess can prevent pregnancy. To improve sperm quality, you first need to reconsider your diet. Eliminate preservatives, flavor enhancers and other additives; All of these negatively affect the quality of sperm. Add more fruits, vegetables, berries, seafood, lean meats and greens to your diet,” Dzusov advised.
In addition, according to him, lean beef, white poultry, fresh vegetables and herbs, seafood and nuts in the diet positively affect sperm levels. These are all natural sources of microelements, protein and essential amino acids.
“The most important vitamins for sperm health are B9, C, E, folic and ascorbic acids. To reduce the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle, it is worth warming up during the working day, not taking the elevator, trying to walk every day and include active entertainment (cycling, skating, walking, etc.) when planning your vacation, ”concluded the expert.
At the same time, experts emphasize that if pregnancy does not occur within a year of regular sexual activity without using birth control, then you should consult a reproductive specialist, as this may indicate infertility.