2. OBJECTIVES
Importance of semen analysis in clinical
practice
Indications
Composition of normal semen
Morphology & motility of sperm
Applied .
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3. Semen analysis.
Imp for evaluation of
male fertility.
Also done after
vasectomy to check
completeness of
surgical procedure.
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4. Semen – features.
Volume – 2-5 ml per ejaculation.
Motility - > 60% should be motile within 3
hrs.
Count – 35-200 millions /ml
Liquefaction – Liquify within 30 min.
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6. Principle
Analysis of freshly collected sample of semen
gives information about male fertility, which
is detected by examining the sample under
the microscope.
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8. Procedure
After a period of sexual abstinence of 2 days.
Sample is collected.
Semen analysis done after 30 min.
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9. Why after 30 min.
Immediately after collection semen
coagulates & liquifies after 15-20 min.
Semen contains fibrinogen which gets
converted to fibrin & coagulates the sample.
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10. Measurement of other
parameters
Measure the volume.
Examine motility & morphology under low
power then high power.
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11. Sperm count
Pipetteing
Collect the seminal
fluid upto 0.5 mark in
WBC pipette.
Dilute upto 11 mark
by using 4% sodium
bicarbonate in 1%
phenol.
Count in WBC square.
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12. Precautions
Sample collection should be after 48 hrs of
abstinence.
Sample should be analysed 30 min after
collection.
Analysis should be done within 6 hrs of
collection.
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16. Motility
Within first 3 hrs, 60%
sperm should show
motility in forward
direction.
< 60% - subnormal
<40% - infertility.
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17. Count
35- 200 millions /ml
Between 20-40
millions/ml –
infertility.
<20% - sterility.
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18. Liquefaction
Liquify within 30 min.
Cause – Plasmin in prostatic fluid.
Delayed for more than 2 hrs –
inflammation of accessory glands or enzyme
defect in secretory products of glands
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19. Liquefaction.
Semen when ejaculated
is liquid but it soon
coagulates in vitro or in
vagina.
This clotting helps
semen to remain in
vagina for some time.
Liquefaction after 30
min releases sperm for
movements.
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20. Morphology.
>70% - should have
normal morphology.
Abnormality > 30 % -
pathology.
Abnormalities – shape,
defective head, tail,
bifurcated tail, bifid
head, spirally coiled
tail, absence of head.
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21. pH
Normal - 7.2-7.7
The alkalinity is due to the prostatic secretions.
Below 7 – semen contains prostatic fluid which
may be due to congenital absence of seminal
vesicle or excessive prostatic fluid.
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22. Significance of alkaline pH.
The alkaline semen brings the vaginal pH
from 3.5–4 to 6–6.5, the pH at which sperms
show optimum motility.
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23. Fructose content.
Normally present.
Absent in –
Absence or obstruction of ejaculatory ducts or
seminal vesicle.
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24. Secretions of seminal vesicles
The secretion from seminal vesicles is mucoid
and viscous fluid.
It is neutral or slightly alkaline in nature.
It contains fructose, phosphorylcholine,
ergothioneine, ascorbic acid, flavins and
prostaglandins.
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25. Functions
Nutrition to sperms
Clotting of semen soon after ejaculation into
the female genital tract occurs due to
fibrinogen
Fertilization of ovum may be enhanced by
the prostaglandins
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26. Secretion of prostate gland
Forms 10% of total semen.
Functions –
Maintenance of optimum pH for fertilization
(6–6.5)
Clotting of semen by converting fibrinogen
(from seminal vesicles) into a coagulum is
caused by the clotting enzymes present in
the prostatic fluid.
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27. Secretion of bulbourethral gland.
Provide mucoid consistency to the semen
after puberty.
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