Research skills

Question 1

What are the 2 methods of sample collection used in andrology?

Answer 1

-Masturbation
-Non-spermicidal sheath (to take home)

Question 2

What are the criteria required to accept semen samples?

Answer 2

-2 days of no ejaculation
-specimen pot is non cytotoxic and pre-weighed

Question 3

When a semen sample is produced at home how quickly must it be delivered to an andrology unit?

Answer 3

Within 40 minutes

Question 4

What questions are asked when a patient gives a semen sample?

Answer 4

-If they’ve had a fever in the last 24 hours
-How many days of sexual abstinence?
-what time did they produce their sample?
-is the sample complete?

Question 5

What 5 parameters are assessed when completing macroscopic semen analysis?

Answer 5

-Volume
-liquefaction
-appearance/ odour
-viscosity
-PH

Question 6

What is considered a low volume of semen in a sample?

Answer 6

Less than 1.4 ml

Question 7

When looking at semen macroscopically, what may appearance changes withing 30 minutes tell you?

Answer 7

-Blood or puss cells may indicate infection (more likely in younger patients) and or prostate cancer (more likely in older patients)

Question 8

What 5 parameters are assessed when analysing sperm microscopically

Answer 8

• round cells
  -aggregation and agglutination
  -motility
  -concentration
  -morphology

Question 9

What may round cells or WCC’s indicate when analysing sperm microscopically?

Answer 9

problem with spermatogenesis

Question 10

What are the 4 different categories of sperm motility?

Answer 10

• Fast progressive: more than 25 um/ 1/2 tail length in 1s
  -slow progressive: medium forward progression between 5 and 25um/s or at least one head length 1s
  -Non-progressive: less than 5um/s or 1 head length from starting point to end point
• Immotile: no active tail movements

Question 11

What does mild asthenozoospermia mean?

Answer 11

reduced sperm motility 24-30% progressive motility

Question 12

What does asthenozoospermia mean?

Answer 12

-sig. reduced sperm motility
-less than 24% progressive motility

Question 13

How can the total sperm count for the ejaculate be calculated?

Answer 13

-Conc. x vol

Question 14

How is sperm concentration calculated?

Answer 14

Conc = number of sperm counted/ number of rows counted x 1/20 x dilution factor

Question 15

What is mild oligozoospermia?

Answer 15

-slightly reduced sperm concentration
-11- <16 x10 ^6 sperm/ml

Question 16

What is oligospermia?

Answer 16

-sig. Reduced conc. sperm
-<11x 10^6 sperm/ml

Question 17

What is azoospermia?

Answer 17

-total absence of spermatozoa after ejaculation

Question 18

What does teratozoospermia mean?

Answer 18

reduction in the number of normal forms
- <4% normal forms

Question 19

When is semen analysis done during the process of a vasectomy?

Answer 19

• Before
  -3 months after
• 6 months after

Question 20

List 4 reasons for cryopreservation

Answer 20

• Fertility preservation
  -Transgender banking
  -Low sperm cunt
  -testicular biopsies

Question 21

Describe the processes involved in cryopreservation

Answer 21

• screening for infectious diseases
• consent forms produced by the HFEA- informed consent
  -post-thaw analysis to indicate the treatment suitability
• post-treatment checks every 3 yrs to assess natural sample

Question 22

What temperature are semen frozen at during cryopreservation?

Answer 22

• 196 degrees