Sperm Analysis Results

[danielh65]

My husband (24M) and I (22F) have been trying for 18 months. My husband is due for his second sperm analysis on Wednesday, but the doctor didn’t seem concerned about his first analysis’ results. Can someone help me break down motility and SMORI? It just doesn’t seem right to me. Is this considered low motility? I have no idea what SMORI could mean.

My bloodwork came back relatively normal. This first analysis was almost 3 months ago, but the doctor didn’t explain if anything was wrong despite us asking questions. He had an at-home analysis, which took 35 minutes to get to the lab and it was freezing outside, so I’m not sure if that affected anything.

I want to understand so I can interpret his next analysis. Thank you so much!

—————-

Results after a 3-4 day hold:
Volume: 3mL
Semen pH: 6.0 (marked as low)
Sperm count (normal - above 20.0 10*6/mL): 168.0
Non-motile: 30%
Non-progressive: 20%
Slow/sluggish progress: 50%
Rapid progression: 0%
SMORI: 45%
Morphology: No value

 

[niagrace]

@danielh65 I would recommend you get your doctor to go through every result if you have concern because if they are a good reputable clinic and you have paid them then they should provide you with a service to explain the results thoroughly to you!

I am not sure if temperature would affect your sample but ask the doctor to double check!

Nevertheless, I have been reading up on semen results (lol this what my life has come to…) because my husband also did his test and I wanted to know what the results meant in more detail, and World Health Organisation (WHO) has some stats as to what is ‘normal’ that you can read up!

I can share with you what my doctors said was their ‘normal’ based on what you provided so seems like your partners volume is good (above 1.4ml). PH should be above 7.2 and lower could mean it’s a bit more acidic but maybe some fertility lubricants could help balance the PH for you (I am not a doctor so don’t take my word for it!). Normal sperm count. Motility maybe could be improved (WHO state 40-80% progressive is normal) but maybe you could research how to help increase rapid progression? Also why did they not provide a morphology value? I think that is also important to have because it should be between 4-14% according to WHO to be considered normal. Did the clinic recommend any supplements for him to take?

 

[danielh65]

@niagrace Thank you so much!

 

[bornsinner]

@danielh65 I don't understand SA well enough that I feel comfortable answering your question but if you want to go over the rest of your SA, this is a very helpful post that I bookmarked for whenever I need to re-review my husband's SA: https://www.reddit.com/r/TryingForABaby/s/jjAhPzJELZ

 

[danielh65]

@bornsinner Thank you!!

 

[niagrace]

@bornsinner This post from Poole is incredible! Thank you for sharing I feel much more reassured about my husbands SA!

 

[gramm15]

@danielh65 There needs to be a morphology value. That’s how many sperm were normal looking.

My husband has low morphology. We tested him twice and it came back low about 1-2%. Normal is above 4%.

We had to do IVF.

We found out there’s a genetic reason for his morphology being low which is balanced translocation. He did karyotyping to find this out.

 

[s3anreilly]

@gramm15 We've had quite a few analysis without morphology. (Although mostly they did not do it because there wasn't enough sperm to do a good guess at percentage because they only look at a fraction and extrapolate that). Most urology guidelines say morphology isn't really a predictive or deciding factor. It's mostly important if there is like a distinct pattern of certain defects that indicate underlying issues.
I think in OP's analysis. The SMORI might be strict morphology.

 

[gramm15]

@s3anreilly Morphology is the normalcy of the sperm and abnormal sperm is not good. Had our specialist not considered morphology we would still be trying. We were immediately diagnosed with male factor infertility and discovered that his morphology was linked with a chromosomal disorder which was confirmed with a geneticist.

Yet for some reason so many doctors don’t look further into morphology when it’s a huge factor in male fertility.

 

[s3anreilly]

@gramm15 The thing is though when there isn't a distinct pattern that is chromosomally caused it doesn't say anything about the DNA content. It's the package not the content. The reason for not considering it (if the percentage is off but no worrying pattern) is that this is what the evidence based urology guidelines say. With looking at all the available evidence..
It is definitely not a huge factor

The American Urological Association says (PDF):

Although most clinicians utilize strict morphology in everyday practice, most studies have not addressed the significance of isolated low morphology in patients with otherwise normal semen parameters. The current evidence suggests that, in general, sperm morphology scores should not be used in isolation to make patient management decisions.

Recommendation: Sperm morphology by rigid (strict) criteria has not been shown to be consistently predictive of fecundity and should not be used in isolation to make prognostic or therapeutic decisions.

tl;dr: Not important when other parameters are normal.

 

[gramm15]

@s3anreilly Ahhh American. That makes sense. Australian standards include and promote morphology as part of testing parameters and fertility considerations.

You have to do Karyotyping to confirm it is genetic but morphology is an indicator.

Our specialist was correct and had seen it multiple times. All his other parameters were correct. Above average actually.

It’s standard in Australia and we got government subsidised IVF.

 

[s3anreilly]

@gramm15 Are you sure your guidelines say that? Because I'm European and our guidelines also dismiss it completely. Only using total motile sperm count.
And karyotyping as only useful with azo or severe MFI (

 

[s3anreilly]

@danielh65 Did he keep the sample at body temperature in transit? Like between the legs or under his armpit? Because temperature could definitely affect especially motility.
I'd hazard a guess that smori is something like strict morphology something?

 

[danielh65]

@s3anreilly Thank you! And yes, it wasn’t at body temp on the way there. He said he turned the heat up and had it on the passenger seat. I’m going to see if he can take the test at the lab. The urology place only does at-home tests, so I think those results may have been skewed

 

[s3anreilly]

@danielh65 We've always been told to really try to keep it at body temp if it was an at home sample.