TBC
Agglutination:
This is when sperm stick together, which can suggest that sperm antibodies are present. Also noted during semen analysis, as if sperm stick together, it can affect their function.
Asthenozoospermia:
This is where sperm has poor motility (with less than 39% swimming.)
Azoospermia:
This is when there is no sperm present in a man’s ejaculate. This can be due to blockage in the tubes that the sperm is transported through, a vasectomy, low or no sperm production in the testicle.
CASA:
Computer Aided Semen Analysis, which enables us to track sperm. Telling us how well and how fast the sperm are moving, and if they look normal, allowing us to make an informed opinion on which treatment would be best for you.
Cryptozoospermia:
A term for semen with an extremely low concentration of sperm. Epididymis: Coiled tubing located outside the testicles where sperm is stored.
Hormone Screening:
Also known as a male hormone profile test, can give us an indication of everything from how many sperm you’re able to produce, to whether you may have an underlying medical condition. All of this information can help us give you the right fertility treatment. We will check the levels of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone in your blood to get an idea of how much sperm you might be producing. We will also check your testosterone levels.
Male Factor Infertility:
When problems in a man’s fertility may cause a couple’s infertility or contribute to existing fertility problems in a woman.
MERC:
Multiple Ejaculation Resuspension and Centrifugation test lets us detect the sperm in semen samples even when numbers are low.
Motility:
Used to describe how sperm are moving. Morphology: Used to describe the shape, size and appearance of sperm.
Oligospermia:
Where the sperm count is less than the expected 20 million per ml.
PESA:
Percutaneous Epidydimal Sperm Aspiration, sees a fine needle inserted into your epididymis-this is a tube at the back of the testicles that stores and carries sperm-allowing us to collect your sperm using gentle suction.
PICSI:
Physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection, a technique used to choose sperm to use in ICSI treatment, involving placing sperm with hyaluronic acid (HA). PICSI identifies sperm that can join with HA, and these sperm are then used in treatment.
Semen Analysis:
We will analyse a sample of your semen using various techniques and equipment to determine your sperm’s quality.
Sperm Chromosome Screening:
For sperm chromosome screening, we ask that you provide us with a semen sample. That sample is then frozen and tested for any abnormalities, with results being available within a few weeks. Once we’ve gotten the results, we will discuss your next steps with you.
Sperm Count and Quality:
We have a variety of tests that can help us measure the number of sperm that you have and their quality.
Sperm DNA damage screening:
You will need to provide us with a semen sample for this test. The sample is then be given to our laboratory who will thaw and test for any DNA damage. This procedure is usually considered for a patient if you are over 50 years of age, smoke or used to smoke or have been exposed to toxicants. For more information, please click here.
Sperm Freezing:
Sperm freezing is performed using vitrification (ultra-rapid IVF embryo freezing). Your sample will be frozen by our embryologists and can be thawed at your convenience.
Sperm Oxidative Stress Test:
Your sperm uses the oxygen that you breathe to produce energy. Molecules known as reactive oxygen are also produced. They fight infection in normal quality, but when produced in excess, they can damage the DNA of your sperm. We call this oxidative stress. The oxidative stress test assesses the balance of reactive oxygen and antioxidants in your semen sample.
SSR:
Surgical sperm retrieval is a treatment option for men who have no sperm in their ejaculate. This can be carried out using PESA or TESA.
Sperm Sharing:
A donation service provided at Care Fertility, where men undergoing their own IVF treatment can donate their sperm to other families who need it.
Teratozoospermia:
A condition in which a man has a high amount of abnormal shaped sperm. (would have to be over 96% of the sample)
TESA:
Testicular Sperm Aspiration is when a small syringe and needle are used to take sperm directly from your testes.
TESE:
Testicular Sperm Extraction sees a slight incision made into the skin on the top of one of your testicles with a small tissue sample being taken, with any sperm samples found in the tissue being extracted.
Vas deferens:
The tubes that carry sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory ducts.
Varicocele:
When the veins in a man’s scrotum are enlarged, sometimes causing fertility problems.
Virology Screening:
Required of all our patients who are planning on using their own sperm in their fertility treatment. It is a relatively quick and painless step at the start of the treatment process, we take a small blood sample to test for viral infections such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV.
Vitality:
Number/percentage of living sperm in the sample.
Volume:
Total semen volume (+1.5ml)