Urologist-andrologist Dmitry Korolev, associate professor at the Institute of Urology and Human Reproductive Health, told socialbites.ca that the smell and time of sperm liquefaction can play the role of indicators of sperm health.
“An important indicator is the liquefaction time. 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.
It is more difficult to determine the quality of the ejaculate by smell, but it is still possible. According to Korolev, 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.
For more information about the characteristics of sperm and how to determine its quality at home, see. material “socialbites.ca”.
Previously embryologist explainedHow to determine the quality of sperm at home by color, volume and taste.