Sperm Health: The First Step Towards A Planned Fatherhood

Did you know that infertility affects around 70 million people worldwide? Yes, you read it right! According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 9% of couples struggle with fertility problems worldwide. And, guess what? Out of this, the male factor contributes to 50% of the issues.¹   

But, what about the Indian scenario? The prevalence of primary infertility (when a pregnancy has never been achieved by a person) ranges between 3.9% and 16.8% in India. From genetic conditions to certain lifestyle choices or medical conditions to medications, male infertility can have a variety of causes.^1,2

In this article, we will talk about the different factors affecting fertility and the tests that can help you determine your sperm health. Without further ado, let’s dive in.

Risk Factors Affecting Sperm Health

• Age Or Delayed Parenthood: Age or delayed parenthood is first on the list. It’s not a secret that age is one of the primary factors that affects male fertility. Both semen quality as well as sperm motility has been observed to decline with advanced age.²
• Environmental Factors: Occupation that requires being exposed to radiation, high temperatures, insecticides or involves prolonged sitting can also impact fertility.³
• Genetic Factors: 15% of male infertility cases could be due to genetic factors, which are either classified as chromosomal abnormalities or single-gene mutations. Any unusual rearrangement of the genetic material at the chromosomal level is called chromosomal abnormality and could be a cause of male infertility.³ Sperm DNA damage is another major cause of male infertility which can also impact reproductive outcomes.⁴ 
• Cancer Or Cancer Treatments: Certain surgeries, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are also seen to impact male fertility.⁵

So wondering what’s next for you?

It’s simple! Proactive testing should be the first step to checking your sperm health. Now, let’s look at the sperm tests that will help you understand your fertility status.

Sperm Health Tests That Help Determine The Health Status of Your Sperms

The diagnosis of male infertility is mainly based on semen analysis, which include parameters like sperm concentration, motility, volume, count and morphology. Semen analysis is a perfect way to assess the formation and maturity of sperm as well as its interaction.² The semen is evaluated for volume, pH, and leukocytes, while the sperm is assessed for the following:

Reference Limits According To The World Health Organization (WHO) Manual For Semen Analysis⁶

In addition to the above analysis, other recommended tests that could help determine conditions related to sperm health include-

1. Post Ejaculate Urine Analysis: Post Ejaculatory Urinalysis is usually recommended for males who have semen volume below 1.0 ml. This test examines the presence of sperm in the urine which can be caused by retrograde ejaculation (occurs when semen enters the bladder).^7,8
2. DNA Integrity Test: Evaluates the degree of sperm DNA fragmentation and is mainly done in those with recurrent miscarriages.⁷
3. Genetic Screening: As chromosomal defects are more common in infertile men than in normal men, genetic screening and chromosomal testing may be indicated for azoospermia (absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate) or severe oligozoospermia (< 5 million sperm/ml).⁷
4. Hormonal Tests: If low sperm count or concentration is observed, hormonal tests are recommended. These tests include testosterone, prolactin, serum Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), and Luteinizing Hormone (LH).⁷

Preserving your fertility using sperm cryopreservation can be helpful. It is like a safety net in planning your future and helps preserve your sperm for future use. Sperm cryopreservation can be used for those undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy, ejaculatory disorder, and testicular damage.⁹

Now that we’ve learnt more or less everything about sperm health,

let’s find out how you can achieve your reproductive goals successfully.

Plan A Stress-Free Fatherhood With LifeCell

There are a lot of things you can do while planning your fatherhood journey. But, having a clear insight into your current sperm health will help you take the next step.

One of the easiest ways is to analyse your sperm with LifeCell’s SpermScore kit. This kit will not only help you get clarity on your fertility but also identify the red flags that may arise. Check out what the kit offers -

Benefits Of SpermScore Kit:

• Sample collection at home
• Easy to use semen analysis kit
• Physician-reviewed results
• Private online dashboard

LifeCell also offers SpermVault if you wish to store your sperm for the future. It is pocket-friendly and offers convenient cryopreservation plans for your healthy sperm. 

Benefits Of SpermVault:

• Retrieval on demand
• Complete privacy
• Easy upgradation to storage plans
• Personalised fertility recommendations
• Real-time temperature monitoring of stored specimen

Takeaway Message

The path to parenthood can be smooth and a simple one. All you need to do is eat right, be active, and be informed about what can affect your sperm health. So, are you ready to kickstart your fertility journey in the best way possible?

Visit our product pages SpermScore and SpermVault to know more.