Macroscopic analysis of sperm
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Amount of sperm
Normally, healthy men have 2-6 ml of ejaculate. Polyspermia - an increase in the volume of sperm (seminal fluid) more than 6 ml. Polyspermy is taken into account only in combination with the number of spermatozoa in 1 ml of ejaculate. Oligospermia is the allocation of less than 2 ml of seed. The decrease in the volume of ejaculate less than 1 ml is always regarded as a pathology: this ejaculate often does not contain spermatozoa and is possible for testicular atrophy. Less often a small volume of ejaculate in combination with the absence of spermatozoa and cells of spermatogenesis (aspermia) is observed with obliteration of both ejaculatory ducts. Aspermia with obliteration of the vas deferens is not accompanied by a decrease in the volume of the ejaculate. The increase and decrease in the volume of ejaculate is caused by changes in the secretion of the prostate and seminal vesicles and is closely related to the diseases of these organs (or their age-related changes.
[Color of sperm
The color of normal sperm (seminal fluid) is grayish white or milky. The impurity of leukocytes gives the ejaculate a yellowish hue, red blood cells - pink or red. The brown color of the ejaculate is due to an impurity of the altered blood.
Smell of sperm
Specific smell of sperm (seed) - the smell of "fresh chestnuts", is due to the presence in the sperm of a normal number of spermatozoa. If the number of spermatozoa sharply decreases, the smell of sperm becomes weak, and if completely absent, it can not be determined at all.
Consistency of sperm
Normally, immediately after ejaculation, the sperm has a thick, viscous consistency due to the coagulation of the secretion of the seminal vesicles. Under the influence of enzymes of the prostate gland, a full liquefaction of the ejaculate takes place 10-30 minutes after the sperm is received. If the ejaculate for a long time remains viscous, semi-viscous or not at all diluted, one should think about inflammation of the prostate gland or seminal vesicles. The viscous consistency of sperm prevents the movement of spermatozoa, which either can not move at all, or quickly lose mobility.
Sperm pH
In normal ejaculate, the pH ranges from 7.2 to 8. The constant pH of the medium provides high sperm motility. With inflammation of the prostate, the pH becomes sharply basic (pH 9-10). When the seminal vesicles or the vas deferens, the reaction of the ejaculate is shifted to the acidic side (pH 6-6.5), due to the lack of secretions in it of the accessory genital glands. If the pH of the seminal fluid becomes less than 6, the spermatozoa lose their mobility and necrospermia can be detected.