HUMAN SPERM

Sperm motility refers to the ability of sperm to move and swim effectively. It is a crucial factor in male fertility, as sperm must navigate through the female reproductive tract to reach and fertilize an egg.

Sperm motility is how efficiently the sperm moves. Motility issues, such as slow or zero progression, may negatively impact fertility. Certain lifestyle changes or supplements may help increase sperm motility.

Sperm health is an important factor in a couple’s ability to conceive. There are six main criteria for healthy sperm:

Sperm also need to have the right number of chromosomes for a successful pregnancy. A breakdown in any of these criteria can result in male-factor infertility.

Healthy sperm motility is defined as sperm with forward progressions of at least 25 micrometers per second.

Sperm motility can be tested through a routine semen analysis. For the test, you need to provide at least two semen samples. These are usually obtained by masturbation at a doctors office or testing facility. It’s also possible to obtain a sperm sample by having sex with a condom or withdrawing to obtain the sample. The sample must be kept at room temperature and delivered to the facility within 30 to 60 minutes. If less than 40 percent of your sperm are motile, your considered to have low sperm motility.

Some supplements may also help improve sperm motility. The 52 percent increase in sperm motility in men who took a daily supplement of 200 micrograms of selenium along with 400 units of vitamin E for at least 100 days in a row. Speak to your doctor before taking supplements, and be careful about where you buy them. Supplements are not regulated, so you should only buy them from reputable vendors.

If the cause of the sperm mobility issue is a medical problem, such as low hormone levels or varicocele, medication such as follicle-stimulating hormone or human chorionic gonadotropin may help. In some cases, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Sperm motility is the movement and swimming of sperm. Sperm motility is one component of sperm health that is tested in sperm analysis. Poor sperm motility means that the sperm do not swim properly, which can lead to male infertility.

Sperm are motile cells. This means that they are cells that make themselves move, which is important when it comes to fertility.

For vaginal sexual intercourse to lead to conception, sperm needs to enter the body through the cervix and make its way to the fallopian tube to meet an egg. During intercourse, semen is ejaculated near the cervical canal, at the end of the vaginal canal. With normal motility, any semen ejaculated near the vaginal area can make its way up the vaginal canal and to the cervix.

Semen can also get into the vaginal canal without ejaculation, from what is known as pre-ejaculate. This is a small amount of semen-like fluid that comes out of the urethra during sexual arousal.

Sperm are programmed to swim in a way that will help them reach their ultimate destination—the ovulated egg. While the egg is moved along from the ovary into the fallopian tube by tiny hair-like projections called cilia the egg itself does not swim. It floats into and through the fallopian tubes with the help of the cilia.

In a person with normal fertility, one ejaculate of semen may contain over 39 million sperm. Not all of those sperm however are expected to be completely healthy.

For an ejaculate sample to be considered normal at least 40% of the sperm should be motile, or moving. This can include non-progressive movement. At least 32% of the sperm should show progressive motility.

A diagnosis of poor sperm motility is usually made based on the percentage of motile sperm. However, research has found that the total motile sperm count is a more relevant measurement.

that foods rich in antioxidants like beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and vitamin C may contribute to a healthy sperm count. Keep in mind, though, that no specific food is the key to increasing sperm count. Instead, focusing on the diet as a whole is the best way to improve fertility.