Andrology

Question 1

Name some factors that may affect the results from a semen analysis

Answer 1

Instruction
Request
Collection/ delivery
Confirm identity
Analysis methods
Analysis reporting
Interpretation
Ongoing surveillance (QC, EQA, Audit, etc)

Question 2

What could a small volume (

Answer 2

Clinical;

• retrograde ejaculation
• obstruction
• abnormal accessory gland function
• illness

Procedural;

• sample collection e.g. Missed pot, withdrawal method
• short abstinence period
• leaky container

Question 3

What could a high volume (>5ml) indicate?

Answer 3

Clinical;

• infection
• abnormal accessory gland function
• may be associated with reduced counts ???

Procedural;

• long abstinence period
• repeated collections
• urine contamination
• infection (note colour and odour)
• error on lab report
• unclear decimal place (e.g. 10 instead of 1.0)

Question 4

What could a low pH indicate?

Answer 4

• obstruction (if count is also low)

- inappropriate calibration

Question 5

What could abnormal liquefaction indicate?

Answer 5

Enzyme deficiencies

Analysed too soon or at low temp

Question 6

What could abnormal viscosity indicate?

Answer 6

Presence of mucus

Inconsistent definition between samples

Question 7

Name the normal values for sperm quality based on the WHO guidelines (2010)

Answer 7

Vol: >1.5
Conc: >15
Motility: >35%
Morphology: >4%

Question 8

Give 4 examples of why we might carry out semen analysis

Answer 8

1. Diagnosis of male infertility
   (Does the man have fertility problems? How should it be treated?)
2. Therapeutic
   (IUI, IVF, ICSI?)
3. Cryopreservation
   (Fertility preservation, Donation)
4. Contraception
   (Evaluation of vasectomy success)

Question 9

Why is it important to assess sperm morphology?

Answer 9

Morphologically normal sperm are better able to swim through cervical mucus and bind to the egg