Research skills Flashcards
What are the 2 methods of sample collection used in andrology?
-Masturbation
-Non-spermicidal sheath (to take home)
What are the criteria required to accept semen samples?
-2 days of no ejaculation
-specimen pot is non cytotoxic and pre-weighed
When a semen sample is produced at home how quickly must it be delivered to an andrology unit?
Within 40 minutes
What questions are asked when a patient gives a semen sample?
-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?
What 5 parameters are assessed when completing macroscopic semen analysis?
-Volume
-liquefaction
-appearance/ odour
-viscosity
-PH
What is considered a low volume of semen in a sample?
Less than 1.4 ml
When looking at semen macroscopically, what may appearance changes withing 30 minutes tell you?
-Blood or puss cells may indicate infection (more likely in younger patients) and or prostate cancer (more likely in older patients)
What 5 parameters are assessed when analysing sperm microscopically
- round cells
-aggregation and agglutination
-motility
-concentration
-morphology
What may round cells or WCC’s indicate when analysing sperm microscopically?
problem with spermatogenesis
What are the 4 different categories of sperm motility?
- 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
What does mild asthenozoospermia mean?
reduced sperm motility 24-30% progressive motility
What does asthenozoospermia mean?
-sig. reduced sperm motility
-less than 24% progressive motility
How can the total sperm count for the ejaculate be calculated?
-Conc. x vol
How is sperm concentration calculated?
Conc = number of sperm counted/ number of rows counted x 1/20 x dilution factor
What is mild oligozoospermia?
-slightly reduced sperm concentration
-11- <16 x10 ^6 sperm/ml
What is oligospermia?
-sig. Reduced conc. sperm
-<11x 10^6 sperm/ml
What is azoospermia?
-total absence of spermatozoa after ejaculation
What does teratozoospermia mean?
reduction in the number of normal forms
- <4% normal forms
When is semen analysis done during the process of a vasectomy?
- Before
-3 months after - 6 months after
List 4 reasons for cryopreservation
- Fertility preservation
-Transgender banking
-Low sperm cunt
-testicular biopsies
Describe the processes involved in cryopreservation
- 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
What temperature are semen frozen at during cryopreservation?
- 196 degrees
