Semen Analysis (Online Course)

Daniel Hapner, MT(ASCP); Marge Spahn, MT(ASCP); updated by Dr. Judy Stern, Director, Reproductive Sciences Laboratory, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center

This course details all the steps that are necessary to ensure an accurate sperm count. Many illustrations and descriptions are provided to acquaint you with normal and abnormal morphology. This course is an excellent source of continuing education for medical technologists and technicians. It is also appropriate for training laboratory personnel, cross training, and clinical laboratory science students.

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Continuing Education Credits

• P.A.C.E.® Contact Hours: 3 hour(s)
• Florida Board of Clinical Laboratory Science CE - General (Hematology): 3 hour(s)

Objectives

• Understand the reasons for doing a semen analysis.
• Understand the composition of semen and its formation.
• Know the requirements for collection, transport, and accession of a specimen for semen analysis.
• Know what is involved in doing a macroscopic examination of semen.
• Understand the methods available to perform a sperm count.
• Understand how to determine the percentage of motile sperm in a semen specimen.
• Review methods to prepare a slide for morphologic evaluation of semen. Understand the basics of doing a WHO III morphology.

Course Outline

Click on a link in the outline to view a sample page from this course.

• Introduction
• Purpose
• Prerequisites
• Safety Precautions
• Introduction to Semen Analysis
• Semen
• Composition of Semen
• Importance of Semen Analysis
• Evaluating Male Infertility
• Limits of Semen Analysis
• Materials Needed
• In summary the procedure will involve the following:
• Semen is a substance secreted by the male reproductive organs. It is composed of spermatozoa in a semi-viscous fluid.
• Which of the following organs are normally involved in the production of semen?
• Examination of semen is important because:
• Specimen Collection and Transportation
• Identity of patient
• Collection
• Collection (continued)
• Testing collection containers
• Information to be obtained from patient
• Condoms are a good way to collect semen specimens for fertility analyses.
• Which of the following statements are TRUE for semen specimen collection and transport?
• Macroscopic Examination of Semen
• Macroscopic examination of semen
• Liquefaction
• Appearance of semen
• Volume
• Viscosity
• pH
• Viability
• Fructose
• Summary of macroscopic evaluation
• Which of the following statements are true concerning the appearance of a semen?
• Normal volume for a semen specimen is:
• Liquefaction of the specimen always occurs immediately after ejaculation.
• Which of the following statements are true for the viscosity of semen?
• Sperm Count
• Microscopic Examination of Semen
• Requirements for the microscopic examination of semen
• Sperm count: Normal values
• Sperm counting methods
• Neubauer hemacytometer
• Diluting a specimen for counting on a hemacytometer
• High viscosity
• Loading and counting using a hemacytometer
• Appearance of sperm
• Calculating sperm count on a hemacytometer
• Other counting chambers
• Motility
• Assessing motility
• Wet mount assessment of sperm motility
• Assessing sperm motion parameters
• Assessment of post vasectomy specimens
• Which of the following is NOT part of the microscopic examination performed on semen?
• What is a common dilution for a routine sperm count?
• Which of the following is generally considered to be a normal sperm count?
• Non-Sperm Cells in Semen
• Other cells in semen: Epithelial cells
• Other cells in semen: Round cells and red cells
• Other cells in semen: Round cells and red cells (continued)
• White cells in semen
• In addition to sperm, other findings that may be noted on a wet prep include:
• The findings in this slide are normal sperm and amorphous background.
• The cells in the center of this slide are round cells.
• Morphology of Sperm
• Morphology of sperm
• Morphology: What this presentation will teach you.
• Staining and fixation for sperm morphology
• Morphology of normal sperm
• Abnormal forms
• Abnormal heads
• Abnormal tails
• Normal head shape
• Sperm with enlarged rounded head
• Sperm with enlarged head and split tail
• Double headed sperm
• Pinhead sperm
• Two abnormalities
• Tapered head
• Constricted head sperm
• The sperm in the center of this slide is normal.
• Describe the sperm in this slide.
• The sperm in the center of this slide has an abnormal head and a normal tail.
• Reference Values and Sample Report
• Summary: Reference values
• Sample semen analysis report

Additional Information