Infertility Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.

Specialists in cytogenetics detect chromosome abnormalities and genetic disorders. Cytogenetics counseling may only be performed by an individual licenses in the cytogenetics specialty at the director level. Specialists in molecular genetics analyze DNA and RNA to find disease-related genotypes, mutations, and phenotypes in order to detect or predict disease and identify carriers. Specialists in histocompatibility test to determine tissue compatibility, prevent infections, and investigate and post-transplant problems. Techniques include blood typing, HLA typing, HLA antibody screening, disease markers, flow cytometry, crossmatching, HLA antibody identification, lymphocyte immunophenotyping, immunosuppressive drug assays, allogenic, isogeneic and autologous bone marrow processing and storage, mixed lymphocyte culture, stem cell culture, cell mediated assays, and assays for the presence of cytokines. Specialists in andrology and embryology examine gametes and embryos, including production, morphology, number, and motility, to address issues of fertility and infertility.

Semen analysis can provide important information related to the function of the male reproductive system but, even when results are within normal limits, it does not ensure that a male is fertile. A normal semen analysis result does not mean that all causes of male infertility have been ruled out. One reason for this is that there can be considerable differences between one semen analysis result and another in a single individual. On the other hand, an abnormal result does not always mean that a couple cannot conceive a pregnancy. Men with suboptimal sperm counts have been known to father children. Also, infection, trauma, stress, febrile illness and medications can cause temporary subfertility. For all of these reasons multiple specimens are recommended for a complete analysis of the semen.

This course will give you an overview of the methods involved in performing a semen analysis. Semen analysis may be performed for one of several reasons. One of these is evaluation to assess male fertility. Infertility is a problem for approximately 1 in 7 couples who attempt a first pregnancy. In almost half of these cases (~50%) the cause of infertility can be traced, at least in part, to an abnormality in the male. Examination of sperm is the first step in evaluating male infertility. Semen analysis can also be used to: confirm the absence of sperm in post vasectomy patients; confirm the presence of sperm after vasectomy reversal; and to determine the presence of sperm for certain legal purposes, such as rape.

In summary, the macroscopic examination of semen can provide important information. Changes in semen liquefaction parameters, viscosity, volume, pH may provide clues to the clinician about causes of infertility or abnormalities of the reproductive tract.