In undergoing a pregnancy program, male and female fertility factors both play a role in the success of the program itself. But not infrequently what is often disputed from the woman’s side, and the reality is not like that, mom friend.
Men play a very important role in the success of the pregnancy program. Because to fertilize the egg, a healthy sperm is needed with the amount determined in the pregnancy process. Healthy sperm is one of the important factors in male fertility. Based on various research journals,\.
Here are 10 characteristics of healthy sperm:
1. Sperm Concentration
- Sperm count: A healthy sperm concentration is usually more than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen. The World Health Organization (WHO) specifies that the normal sperm count ranges from 15 million to more than 200 million sperm per milliliter.
2. Sperm Motility
- Ability to Move: Healthy sperm have good motility, which means they are able to move well and reach the egg. Therefore at least 40% of the sperm in the sample should show motility, and about 32% of the sperm should have progressive motility (moving forward).
3. Sperm Morphology
- Shape and Structure: Healthy sperm have normal morphology, with an oval-shaped head and a long tail that aids movement. WHO suggests that at least 4% of the sperm in a sample should have normal morphology. For prospective fathers who want to check the quality of their sperm, they can do SA (Sperm Analysis) at WIN Fertility Center and consult directly with our Andrology specialist.
4. Semen Volume
- Amount of Semen: The volume of semen released during ejaculation is also important, with the volume considered normal being between 1.5 to 5 milliliters per ejaculation.
5. Sperm Vitality
- Sperm Viability: The percentage of live sperm in the sample is also an indicator of sperm health, at least 58% of the sperm in the sample should be alive.
6. pH of semen
- Semen Fluid Acidity: The pH of healthy semen usually ranges between 7.2 and 7.8. A pH that is too low or too high can affect the sperm’s ability to move and survive.
7. Fructose Concentration in Semen
- Nutrition for Sperm: Fructose is an important source of energy for sperm. Therefore, the normal fructose concentration is about 13 µmol per ejaculate.
8. Sperm DNA Fragmentation Level
- Sperm DNA Integrity: Low levels of DNA fragmentation indicate healthier sperm that are better able to fertilize an egg. The DNA fragmentation index of healthy sperm is usually below 15%.
9. Sperm Velocity
- Progressive Motility: In addition to the ability to move, the speed at which the sperm moves is also important. Because the sperm needs to be able to move quickly to the egg to increase the chances of fertilization.
10. Leukocyte Content in Semen
- White Blood Cell Levels: Low leukocyte levels in semen indicate the absence of infection or inflammation in the reproductive tract. High leukocyte levels can be an indicator of an infection that can affect sperm quality.
For fathers-to-be, it is important to have a sperm test done before the pregnancy program. For those in Bali SA (Sperm Analysis) can be done at WIN Fertility Center by making a reservation Click Here!
Reference:
- World Health Organization. (2010). WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen, 5th Edition.
- Cooper, T. G., et al. (2010). World Health Organization reference values for human semen characteristics. Human Reproduction Update, 16(3), 231-245.
- Agarwal, A., et al. (2016). Sperm DNA fragmentation: a new guideline for clinicians. World Journal of Men’s Health, 34(1), 11-21.