Indicators spermogramma by WHO standards

Often andrologists give their spermogram to their patients and report the diagnosis without any detailed explanation of what is happening. At patients at once there is a weight of questions on their spermogramme: what of indicators correspond or meet to norms and what, on the contrary, are far from an ideal, what data of discrepancy mean and how to connect among themselves all parameters spermogrammy? In this article, we will try to tell you about the main indicators that you can see on the program, and what they should be in order to meet the WHO standards.

Indicators of the spermogram according to WHO standards

Term of abstinence, what should it be?

The optimal number of days should be at least 4. If you do not observe the abstinence period, the results of the analysis can not be compared with the reference ones and in fact the syrmiolonic diagnosis in this case will be incorrect. The average term of abstinence is considered the most optimal, in order to examine ejaculate. Repeated tests should be taken with the same term of abstinence, as the very first.

Volume of ejaculate

2 ml or less VO classified as microspermia, which in some cases is associated with malfunctioning of the adnexal sex glands. The upper limit of WHO is not established. However, if the volume of the ejaculate is more than 5 ml, this may be a clear sign of an inflammatory process in the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, or Cooper glands.

Color of the ejaculate

According to WHO standards, the color of the ejaculate is grayish. Brown or red color will indicate the presence of blood cells, which may be a sign of the presence of tumors, stones in the prostate gland. Yellow shade can be with jaundice or taking a number of vitamin preparations.

Indicator ph

This is the ratio between negative and positive ions. WHO says that this indicator should be 7, 2. WHO experts limit only the bottom indicators of ph .However, some experts say that not only a decrease in the level of ph indicates the presence of inflammatory processes in the sex glands.

Sperm liquefaction time

This indicator should, in the aggregate, be about 60 minutes. The increase in this period is a sign of enzyme deficiency or prolonged inflammatory processes in the prostate, seminal vesicles. It is believed that this indicator is fundamental in conducting spermogram. It is very important that spermatozoa can be able to actively move around as quickly as possible. With this increase in time, the sperm moving in a viscous medium will have to lose biological energy faster, moreover, they will need to stay in the vagina longer, and the acidic medium of the latter contributes to a significant decrease in their mobility, hence, the ability of the sperm to impregnate decreases.

Sperm viscosity

This indicator is measured in centimeters of the ejaculate thread, at which it is able to form into a drop and separate from a special needle or pipette. According to WHO standards, this should be individual droplets. Increase in viscosity is a sign of enzyme deficiency or prolonged inflammatory processes in the prostate, seminal vesicles. Ideally, ejaculate should form droplets of small diameter, a sample with pathological changes will form a thread a little more than two centimeters.

Number and density of spermatozoa

Sperm density is the total number of spermatozoa contained in a milliliter of ejaculate. Ideally, this indicator should be equal to 20 million the upper limit of the WHO experts do not limit. The total number of spermatozoa is the density multiplied by the volume. According to WHO standards, this indicator should be 40 million.

Sperm motility

This indicator characterizes the ability of spermatozoa to actively move. Mobility is assessed in 4 groups. And the group - spermatozoa are actively moving, the trajectory of their movement is straight. In group - spermatozoa are inactive, the trajectory of their movement is straight. With group - spermatozoa are inactive, the trajectory of motion is rotational. D group - motionless spermatozoa. According to WHO standards, type A spermatozoa should be more than 25%, or spermatozoa of types A and B should be more than 50% one hour after ejaculation.

Morphology

Spermatozoa contained in the ejaculate, capable of subsequent fertilization and having a normal structure, should be greater than 15%.There is no unified opinion of experts on this issue, as there are no norms on the content of normal spermatozoa in this or that ejaculate. For this reason, the evaluation of morphology is considered one of the most ambiguous and subjective sections in the study of sperm.

Live spermatozoa

The number of live spermatozoa is considered as a percentage. According to WHO standards, the live sperm count should be at least 50%.If the ejaculate contains more than half of dead sperm, it is a matter of necrospermia. Necrospermia in most cases is temporary. The main causes of necrospermia include: poisoning, stress, infectious diseases. Long-running necrospermia will indicate a serious disorder of sperm formation.

Spermatogenesis cells

The spermatogenase cells themselves represent the cells of the epithelial cover of the seminiferous tubules. Interest rates this indicator does not have. Such cells are found in all ejaculates. A large number of such cells can be observed in secretory forms of infertility.

Agglutination of spermatozoa

This phenomenon involves the gluing of spermatozoa, which can interfere with their future translational movement. Ideally, this should not be observed. True agglutination in nature is very difficult to meet, and as a rule, in most cases it indicates significant disturbances in the immune system. Do not confuse agglutination of spermatozoa with aggregation in any case. When agglutination occurs gluing of spermatozoa, and cellular elements in the resulting formations are absent.

Erythrocytes and leukocytes

Leukocytes are white blood cells present in the ejaculate. Normally their number should be 1 * 106.An increase in this number indicates the possibility of inflammation in the genital area( vesiculitis, prostatitis, urethritis, orchitis).

But there should not be red blood cells in the ejaculate. The presence of red blood cells in the ejaculate can often be associated with injuries, tumors, vesiculitis. This is the most disturbing symptom, if red blood cells are found in the ejaculate, immediately contact a specialist.