Can anyone analyse these sperm test results?

[Eleveld]

Motility - 20%
Density - 32.4million/ml
Approx 15.4% of spermatozoa are of normal morpholog.

Are these good or bad?

Thanks

[morningpaper]

Normal is:

motility 50% or more with forward progression (so that's a bit rubbish)
sperm concentration - 20 million per ml (so that's good)
morphology 30% or more with normal forms

So your man has a lot of deformed sperm which are running in the wrong direction, but quite a lot of them

does that help

[morningpaper]

here

[Eleveld]

doesn't sound great then

anything that can be done to improve?

[morningpaper]

It doesn't sound TOO bad but I don't know much about it.

You only need one of the beggers remember...

[minster]

The morphology is completely dependent on the references the lab use - 'normal' can be anything between 10-30% normal. It's impossible to interpret without the lab methodology, criteria & reference range.

Motility is on the low side but the overall count is importnant as well (conc x volume).

Have you discussed the results with the dr who ordered the SA? (tread lightly if it was a GP - they typically know v. little when it comes to fertility)

[Eleveld]

Hi Minster

Thanks for that. I've actually seen on the form that the 'reference range' for morphology is 15%, so I assume 15.4% is OK.

So it's just the motility one that looks a bit low. It was done by a GP but the GP actually said to my partner he doesn't think these tests are ultra reliable and that results are bound to deteriorate in the time between 'making the sample' and getting it to the hospital/it being tested (he was suggesting that if the sperm had been tested immediately the motility would have been higher)

I am under a gyna for endo and it is him who suggested my partner get checked - I am seeing gyna week after next so will be discussing the results then

[Eleveld]

'gynae'

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

It is wise to have a couple both checked in tandem for fertility problems.

I would not rely on one semen analysis alone to indicate male factor problems; such tests should always be repeated. Sperms are complicated things and there is much about them that is not fully understood.

Good luck with your appointment with the gynae next week. As a fellow endo sufferer I hope he has a good idea of how to effectively treat it as it can recur.

[GryffinGirl]

My DH also has poor sperm count - I would say probably a lot worse. There is a thread on here from about 3 months ago asking a similar question that I started and I got a lot of good advice.

As I understand it, 32 million per ml is very good for numbers, 20 million per ml is considered the threshold for normality - fewer is not good, more is clearly good, but there are other factors.

In my experience, GP's are not the best interpreters of results and the usual GP prescribed sperm test only tells half the story - your DP should be retested. We have been referred to a fertility unit and DH is getting a more detailed test done at the moment.

There are things that can be done to help and addressing alcohol/smoking and diet/supplements make a difference, but I don't think there is any effective drug treatment or any useful medical intervention that can be done, unless there is found to be a physical cause. Attila will correct me if that is wrong.

[Eleveld]

thanks for your comments.

I'm feeling quite hopeful now - DP has told me that the GP was not concerned by the results at all but I will see what the expert, the gynae, has to say.

To be honest I think any problems are much more likely to be with my endo

thanks again