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.