There are many causes of infertility in men, some of which can be very difficult to diagnose and understand. The tests most commonly used for diagnosing male fertility are Semen Analysis and Sperm Penetration Essay test. Here, we will discuss the procedures involved with these two tests to diagnose infertility in men.
1. Semen Analysis
An analysis of semen includes a review of the composition, properties and specific gravity. Many steps to present a detailed analysis, such as dilution, specimen preparation and volume, are performed. A complete semen analysis will be necessary for diagnosing male infertility due to low sperm quality.
About The Test
Semen analysis also includes the assessment of other testicular functions such as testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), sperm density, and morphology. In addition, genetic evaluation may be done on both partners to determine any known causes of infertility.
Risk Factors Associated with the Test
The main risk factor with this test is that the test can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, depending on your health precautions. In addition, this test will not be able to analyze many aspects of infertility in men, so your doctor may need to do a more extensive examination and analysis of your semen sample.
Preparing for the Test
This test requires a few different components, such as a specimen for analysis, a semen collection device and sperm aspiration. Your Ob/Gyn doctor will give you instructions on collecting your sample, taking care of yourself during the procedure and what to expect during the test itself.
What to expect from the test?
The effectiveness of the test is dependent on the situation. For example, it is effective when it is used to detect fertility challenges. Still, it can also be ineffective if there are serious causes of male infertility or problems with collecting or producing semen samples.
Possible results of the test
Laboratories of an infertility hospital in Bengaluru with an advanced system take only a couple of hours for the analysis of this test to be done in the laboratory. The results will show if there is low sperm density, count or morphology.
When to see a doctor?
If you have been trying to conceive for more than one year without success, this test may be a good option for you and your female partner.
Request an appointment at
Apollo Fertility, Varthur, Bengaluru
Call 1860-500-4424 to book an appointment
2. Sperm Penetration Essay Test (SPET)
A sperm penetration test is a technique used to evaluate the ability of a man's sperm to fertilize the female egg. First, a semen specimen is introduced with the lab-prepared hamster eggs treated to fuse with male sperm. The collected specimen is then analyzed to evaluate how many eggs were penetrated by the sperm. This test tells if the male sperm is undergoing all the necessary changes in terms of physiology to cause fertilization.
About the Test
This test involves the involvement of a laboratory. A sample of your semen is used to be treated and set in a chamber with lab-prepared hamster eggs. This test requires you to provide your donor semen, the hamster eggs, a collection device and the sperm sample for analysis. The results of this test will show if there is any problem with your sperm quality or if you may be facing issues such as genetic defects.
Risk Factors Associated with this Test
This may be a controlled test, so there are no risks involved with this process. This test run is a simple procedure performed on almost all men. You can consult the best infertility specialist in Bengaluru to get more information about this test.
Preparing for the Test
The ease of this test depends upon the situation. For example, if you have had a previous semen analysis that indicated problems with your sperm concentration or morphology, this may be a better option than doing another semen analysis. On the other hand, if you are having problems with fertility and there seem to be no other causes, then the sperm penetration test may indicate any problems with your sperm.
What to Expect from the Test?
If the sperm penetrated less than 50% of eggs, then it indicates the limited capability of sperm. Conversely, if the results show a penetration above 50%, the sperm is said to be in a perfect state for fertilization.
Possible Results of the Test
If there is a problem with your sperm, then the results can indicate that there may be significant hormonal problems or sperm production disorders. If this is the case, more extensive testing may be necessary to determine if you have a healthy sperm count and normal morphology.
When to See a Doctor?
If you have had a SPET done and it has shown that your sperm is not fit for fertilization, then it would be best to see your doctor about it as soon as possible. Your doctor will want to know what kinds of tests were performed and why to help locate any serious issues that may be present.
Conclusion
In conclusion, male infertility can be a very uncomfortable and scary thing. You may have been trying to conceive for quite some time without success, so you may want to take a step back and reassess your situation.
It depends on where you send the sample and what they need to do to extract and analyze the sample in their laboratory. But, generally, semen analysis is done within a couple of hours.
Low SPET results mean your sperm has an extremely low capability to penetrate a female egg. For such patients, doctors generally recommend trying IVF to get safer results.
It all depends upon the cause of infertility. According to the cause, doctors perform certain treatments to enhance fertility and allow men to father children without complications.
Causes of Male Infertility infertility can be caused by a number of factors, such as undescended testicles, genetic flaws, diseases like diabetes and chlamydia, measles or HIV, or varicocele.
Knowing the difference between male infertility and erectile dysfunction is important. Male infertility is often curable, while erectile dysfunction is generally treatable.
Treatments
