- Semen analysis.
- Repeat semen analysis and functional assays, if indicated.
- Hormone levels.
Semen analysis
Involves the examination of the semen ejaculate of the husband and the different sperm parameters within:
- Motility - percentage of sperm that are moving.
- Forward progression - speed at which the sperm are moving forward.
- Concentration - number of sperm per millilitre of semen.
- Normal morphology - the percentage of sperm cells with normal forms.
- Anti-sperm antibodies - factors that bind to sperm resulting in the agglutination (sperm-sperm binding) and immobilisation (not moving) of sperm.
- Presence of infection - indicated by white blood cells or a positive pathogen culture.
A fertility diagnosis is made by comparing the values obtained for
the husband with standard fertility values as determined by in vitro
investigations. Azoospermia (sperm-free semen)
A small percentage of men may have no sperm in their ejaculate.
This deficiency may be the result of a number of factors and processes:
The absence of testicles.
- The removal of the testicles due to disease.
Defects in sperm production and maturation.
- Congenital or hereditary defects.
- Faulty hormonal control.
- Undescended testicles.
- Chemo- or radiotherapy.
The failure to release sperm.
- Obstruction in the semen pathway following injury, infection, vasectomy and surgery.
- Congenital defects (absence of the vas deference).
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has made the treatment of
many of these patients possible, as only a few sperm cells are required
for this procedure. From azoospermic men with a certain set of defects
the required number of sperm for the ICSI procedure can be obtained
by performing a testis biopsy. Retrograde ejaculation (ejaculation
of sperm into the bladder)
Infertile couples in which the husband suffers from retrograde ejaculation
can be simply and effectively treated using assisted reproduction
procedures.
Donor sperm
In cases where we are unable to obtain sperm from the testes by
means of a biopsy or where the couple so decides (consents),
donor
sperm, from an anonymous donor, can be used. Our laboratory manages
its own, strictly controlled (government legislation), donor bank
thereby ensuring quality and confidentiality.
Sperm preparation
All semen samples to be used for assisted reproduction are processed
prior to being used in the assisted reproduction procedure. A semen
sample is normally obtained from the husband after 2-3 days of sexual
abstinence. The primary objective of sperm preparation methods is
to recover as many motile sperm cells as possible.
Sperm freezing (cryopreservation)
Our laboratory has the technology and the expertise to effectively
freeze semen samples. These semen samples can be stored for an unlimited
period. Thawed semen samples have the potential to induce a pregnancy
by assisted reproduction after any length of storage period. The
reasons for storage can be for any of a number of reasons:
- The husband is unable to attend the clinic during his wife's assisted reproduction cycle.
- The husband may have a problem to produce a sample on demand.
- Testicular sperm from a biopsy can be frozen, so limiting the number of biopsies required to induce a pregnancy.
- Prior to radio- and chemotherapy or the removal of the testicles due to disease.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 back to top
|
welcome