Patient's question:
I have been married to my partner for more than three years. Initially, I prioritized my career and didn't want children, so we had been using contraception. Now that my career is more stable, both of us want to have a child. However, we have been trying for over a year, and there has been no success. Recently, we went to the hospital for a check-up, and the doctor said it is very likely my issue, recommending that I get a semen analysis. I would like to know what tests are included in a routine semen analysis?Doctor's answer:
1. Semen color check, normal semen is transparent and grayish-white. If the abstinence period is long, it may appear light yellow. During reproductive tract inflammation, it may turn yellow or even present with hematospermia;2. Sperm count, normal semen volume for men is 2ml~6ml per ejaculation. If affected by ejaculation frequency and volume, the semen volume may be less than 1ml/each, which indicates abnormal sperm;
3. Sperm motility check, sperm motility is divided into four levels;
4. Semen liquefaction time, semen is gel-like immediately after ejaculation and becomes liquid within 5~30 minutes;
5. Sperm density check, sperm density refers to the number of sperm per milliliter of semen in males. Normal sperm density in semen is above 20 million per milliliter. If it is less than 20 million/ml, it is classified as oligospermia, which can affect male fertility health.