Patient's question:
Hello doctor, I would like to consult about the reasons that can cause semen to not liquefy. My friend got married a year later than me, but now their child is already 2 years old, and we haven't been able to conceive yet. Yesterday, when I went for a check-up, the doctor said it was a problem with my husband's semen not liquefying. Will this greatly affect fertility? What are the reasons that can cause semen to not liquefy?Doctor's answer:
Hello, semen is immediately solidified after ejaculation outside the body and then enters the liquefaction process. This process typically completes within 15 minutes. If the semen does not liquefy within 60 minutes, it should be considered abnormal. Therefore, it is recommended to observe and record the liquefaction status at 20 minutes, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes after ejaculation, as well as whether it liquefies completely. Normal semen may contain non-liquefying gel-like particles, and this phenomenon appears to have no clinical significance. Prolonged liquefaction time, incomplete liquefaction, or failure to liquefy are usually associated with hypofunction of the prostate gland and a lack of proteolytic enzymes. Different causes require different treatment approaches. It is recommended that you visit a formal and professional infertility and sterility specialty hospital for targeted examination and treatment under the guidance of experts to determine the cause and receive symptomatic treatment. Wishing you good health.