Sperm testingAs the male factor causes 40% of infertility cases, the semen test is one of the most important.What is a sperm testing?.It is the obtention of a semen sample in an special container to be analyzed in the andrology lab.The obtention of the sample is simple, it takes few minutes and in normal conditions wont cause any pain. In general, is the only necessary study for men and, compared with other studies, it is economic. The results can be ready in a few hours or the next day.The sample is obtained through masturbation: not through sexual intercourse, oral masturbation or use of condoms as, vaginal discharge, saliva and latex have substances than can affect semen.The container for the sample must be special, should not contain embryotoxic substances that can affect semen. The container must be the one provided by the clinic, never use your own or one bought at a pharmacy.It is recommended to take the sample at the clinic, where there must be a room specially for that purpuse. This room should be right next to the andrology lab.The sample can also be taken at home or at your hotel. This can be useful for patients who can feel unconfortable or pressed outside their own privacy.In case you take the sample home or at your hotel, you must comply with the following:Ask for the study budget in advanceApply and use the container provided in the clinicObtain the sample through masturbationWhen booking the appointment, you mus specify that the sample will be taken outside the clinic, as well as the time of the sample deliveryShow moreHow should I prepare for the semen testing?You must have between 3 to 7 days of abstinence (no ejaculation):Deliver the sample in no more than 40 minutes after the sample was obtainedTransport the container closed and close to the body (inside your pocket) to keep the body temperatureDeliver the sample only to the lab personnel who will receive it, label it and get the delivery signatureIn case you cannot deliver it personally, the sample can be delivered by your spouse or by a close relative who will sign the corresponding papers and present identificationsShow moreWhich information is obtainted with the semen testing?The goal of sperm testing is to try to predict how sperm will behave in the female reproductive tract and when they meet eggs.The semen test used to study infertility is called spermiogram and consist in the analysis of a sample of semen to:if less than 3 days have passed, there will be low seminal liquid, if more than 7 days have passed, there can be low motile sperm that can alter the result.Take a shower or wash the genital areaWash your hands before taking the sampleTo perform and interpret the testing, one must use the reference values from the World Health Organization (WHO) that will be referred in the result. The testing wont work if these values are not considered.For patients with fertility problems, the spermiogram must be done instead of conventional basic studies done in conventional labs. The spermiogram considers the following very important parameters:Presence of antisperm antibodiesQuantity of live spermSperm capacitation: this is the most important test of the study. Here, the sample will be processed to get the live sperm to go to culture in special incubators in order to know the useful sperm number recovered. This numbers will indicate the specialists the correct treatment to propose: programmed intercouse, IUI or IVF.For example, if after a sperm capacitation less than 5 million of useful sperm are obtained, it will be necessary to do an IVF, avoiding wasting time with IUI or programmed intercourse.Due to the complexity and importance of a complete spermiogram, this study must be performed in an assisted reproduction clinic, where they have the necessary personnel and technology. This may be why probably the specialist will ask the patient to perform the studies in the clinic instead of relying in a previous study from a conventional lab.ConsiderationsIf you dont comply with the requirements, for example, the abstinence days, you must inform your specialists or the lab staff.Show more