Semen Analysis
A semen analysis is the single most informative test in a fertility workup, and the easiest to arrange. It measures how many sperm there are, how well they move and what proportion are normally formed, and it frequently changes the whole direction of treatment.
- Quick, inexpensive and non-invasive
- Assessed within an hour of production
- Private facilities on site
- Repeated before conclusions are drawn
Stay
Outpatient
Duration
Sample provided on site
Anaesthesia
Not applicable
About Semen Analysis
The sample must be assessed within about an hour, which is why producing it on site is preferred. Results vary considerably between samples, so an abnormal result is repeated after a few weeks before any conclusion is drawn. Abstinence of two to five days matters: shorter reduces count, longer reduces motility.
- The sample must be assessed within about an hour
- Abstinence of two to five days gives the most representative result
- Results vary considerably, so repeat testing matters
- Recent fever can reduce counts for up to three months
Before you read on
Everything here is general information about semen analysis. Whether it suits you, and how it would be done in your case, is a decision for your doctor after examining you.
Your consultant's instructions always take precedence over anything written on this page.
When is it recommended?
Situations in which a doctor may suggest semen analysis.
- Couples investigating infertility
- Before any fertility treatment
- After vasectomy, to confirm the procedure worked
- Follow-up after varicocele surgery or treatment
- Before sperm freezing, including before chemotherapy
- Men with concerns about fertility
Procedure details
The usual sequence, from first consultation through to follow-up.
Preparation
Abstain for two to five days. Avoid providing a sample during or shortly after a febrile illness, as it affects the result.
Producing the sample
A private room is provided on site, since the sample must reach the laboratory within about an hour of production.
Laboratory assessment
Volume, count, motility, morphology and the presence of white cells are all assessed under standardised conditions.
Result and repeat
Results are usually available the same day. An abnormal result is repeated after a few weeks before conclusions are drawn.
How to prepare
What to sort out before you come in.
- Abstain from ejaculation for two to five days, not longer
- Avoid alcohol in the days beforehand
- Postpone if you have had a fever in the last three months, as it lowers counts
- Do not use lubricants, as most are toxic to sperm
- Produce the sample on site if at all possible, as delay affects motility
Recovery
What to expect afterwards, and roughly when.
- Results are usually available the same day
- One abnormal result proves very little, and a repeat is standard
- Sperm production takes about three months, so lifestyle changes show after that
- Where results are abnormal, further assessment with examination and hormones follows
- Results are explained in the context of the couple rather than in isolation
Why choose Humayun for semen analysis
The result depends as much on how the sample is handled as on the sample itself.
- Private production facilities on site, so the sample is assessed within the hour
- Standardised laboratory assessment rather than a quick visual estimate
- Abnormal results repeated before any conclusion is drawn
- Results explained in the context of the couple rather than handed over as a number
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