A sperm test is normally recommended by a doctor to be done when a couple has problems with fertility or to check the presence of sperm cells after a vasectomy.
Fertility problems is more prominent in men compared to women, but the cost of getting this test is cheaper compared to checking a woman's fertility.
That is why doctors would normally advise couples to check the fertility of the male partner first.
However there are men who are not very open when it comes to asking questions about this test.
Some are actually embarrassed when this kind of topic comes up.
Here are some commonly asked questions in order to understand more about sperm test.
1.
How much semen is needed for the test? The clinic would actually require a man to provide about one half to a teaspoonful of semen.
Less than this amount would mean that there are few sperm on it, while more semen means that the concentration of the sperm is diluted.
Actually, with a teaspoonful of semen is equal to 6 milliliters.
An mL of semen contains as much as 20 million sperm cells, on a normal basis.
2.
Are there any special preparations needed in order to get a sample? It is important for a man to give the right amount of sample.
Therefore, if you are required to have a sperm test on a particular date, make sure that you do not ejaculate for at least 2 to 4 days before the scheduled date.
3.
What are the signs that are sought for in the sperm sample? First, they check the number of sperm cells found in the semen, the number of living sperm cells and the number of normal shaped sperm cells.
These are the three signs that are checked in order to determine the fertility of men.
4.
What are the causes of low motility or percentage of living sperm cells? Genital infection or inflammation of the prostate gland can be some of the causes for low motility.
A sperm test is not only perfume once to get a final result.
A minimum of two samples is required within a period of 2 to 3 months.
So you may notice that you will have varying results.
5.
How do you collect the sample? A semen sample is tested within one hour after ejaculation.
Most laboratories require men to do it on the laboratory bathroom to ensure the freshness of the sample.
However, there are religious reasons, some men collect semen during sexual intercourse with the use of condom.
The doctor provides a condom for it for commercialized and lubricated condoms can affect the result.
There are plenty of reasons for men infertility; some of these are high level of estrogen, problems with the tubes which carry semen and also complications with the testicles such as when you have undergone radiation treatment.
If a man has low sperm count, motility and number of normal sperm cells, there are still ways on how a couple can conceive a child.