Semen analysis

About: Semen analysis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4909 publications have been published within this topic receiving 143225 citations.

Semen characteristics in consecutive ejaculates with short abstinence in subfertile males

Abstract: This study reports the favourable semen characteristics of 73 subfertile oligozoospermic men with short abstinence periods up to 40 min. Semen characteristics were compared between initial and consecutive ejaculate showing improved semen parameters: progressive grade A spermatozoa, morphology and sperm concentration. Median concentrations in initial and consecutive ejaculates were 10 million/ml and 17 million/ml, respectively. The second sample had a higher median normal morphology (7% versus 6%, P < 0.001). The median of non-progressive spermatozoa (Grade C) was significantly lower in the consecutive sample than the initial sample (0% versus 5%, P < 0.01). Medians for slow progression spermatozoa (B grade) and immotile spermatozoa (D grade) were lower in the consecutive samples (20% versus 13%, P < 0.01 and 60% versus 50%, P < 0.001, respectively). The median for rapid motility (Grade A) was significantly higher in the consecutive sample than the first (30% versus 5%, P < 0.001). Overall median progressive motility as benchmarked by the WHO 2010 criteria was significantly higher in the consecutive sample (43% versus 25%, P < 0.001). Semen analyses of consecutive semen samples collected 30 min (mean) apart in oligozoospemic men should be checked routinely for diagnostic purposes and for managing potential subfertility treatment.

Bull semen evaluation post-thaw and relation of semen characteristics to bulls fertility

Abstract: Evaluation of the quality of cryopreserved bull spermatozoa is reviewed. The methods for the assessment of sperm quality have markedly improved over the last decades - starting with the assessment of morphological shapes and subjective motility analysis towards the more sophisticated analysis of the molecular changes in chromatin, membranes and catabolic activities of the sperm cell itself. Function of sperm plasma membrane under the hypo- osmotic conditions, distribution and concentration of ions, or function of different organelles seem to correlate with the degree of the viability of spermatozoa after freezing and thawing procedures. Many in vitro techniques that stimulate sperm function through female-derived factors, such as zona and oocyte, in zona pellucida binding assay, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and production of embryos, were employed to predict the outcome of artificial insemination in the field. Still, majority of methods used for semen analysis today are both - tedious and expensive, and, in many cases confined to human bias. In order to increase the predictive power of assessment, simultaneous analysis of multiple sperm attributes, or outcomes of several laboratory assessments must be combined to look for the overall effect of several independent sperm parameters.