A semen analysis is a male fertility test that can provide helpful information

Our Tennessee fertility center often recommends a semen analysis for male patients. This helpful male fertility test determines a man’s sperm count, sperm motility (movement) and sperm morphology (shape). As infertility relates to the male partner about 40% of the time, this analysis can provide invaluable insight into how a man or a couple can move forward on the path to parenthood.

What happens during a semen analysis at our clinic?

After a doctor at our Tennessee fertility center reviews a man’s medical history, they typically order a semen analysis. The analysis involves a series of simple steps.

Schedule the appointment. Because a specialist needs to analyze the semen soon after collection, we require that men make an appointment for this male fertility test.

Refrain from ejaculating. To help ensure accurate results, we ask men to not ejaculate for two to five days before their appointment.

Provide the sample at our clinic. Men providing the semen sample at our clinic have access to a private room where they will find a sterile container to collect their semen.

Collect the sample at home. Men who prefer to collect a semen sample at home will first acquire a sterile container from our clinic. They’ll then need to keep the semen sample at body temperature and bring it to our clinic within an hour of collection.

In-depth analysis. After our clinic receives the sample, a specialist analyzes it. They will look at the semen volume as well as the sperm concentration, motility and morphology.

Sometimes, the man needs to provide an additional semen sample to help the doctor confirm accurate results. Depending on the results, the doctor may refer the man to a urologist for a more comprehensive evaluation.

What happens if the results from the analysis are abnormal?

If a semen analysis results in a clear diagnosis, a doctor at our Tennessee fertility center can recommend treatment.

Intrauterine insemination, or IUI, involves a doctor placing the man’s sperm directly into his female partner’s uterus when she’s ovulating. Doctors might recommend this treatment for men with a low sperm count or low sperm motility.

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, consists of an embryologist using the man’s sperm to fertilize the eggs of his partner or an egg donor in the IVF lab. If the fertilization results in embryos, the doctor transfers an embryo into the uterus of the man’s partner or a gestational surrogate. IVF can be helpful for men with an abnormal sperm count or function.

IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI, can help if a man has severe fertility challenges. This treatment involves injecting a single live sperm into the center of a mature egg.

IVF with microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration, or MESA, is an option if a man can produce sperm but cannot ejaculate. For this treatment, the doctor collects sperm from the coiled tube lying behind and above each testicle.

Our team works closely with men to determine which treatment will give them the best chance of becoming a father. Contact us to learn more about this male fertility test.