Bacteriological examination of ejaculate

When should a semen test be performed and what diseases can be diagnosed in this way?

The problem of infertility is catastrophically widespread in our time, almost every 5th married couple encounters it, and in order to find a solution to the problem, you need to figure out which of the spouses is not able to have children and whether this problem exists for this particular one separately taken family actually. The share of male infertility, according to statistics, is almost 50% of all cases of this pathology.

To confirm and diagnose male infertility, it is the spermogram or, in other words, the seeding tank of the ejaculate that is most often used. In addition, seeding ejaculate can be informative in the diagnosis of infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system of various origins, affecting a man's ability to conceive, and prostatitis. A study of the secretion of the prostate, scraping from the urethra, culture on the ureaplasma can also be prescribed.

Another case in which it is necessary to donate a sowing tank of fresh ejaculate in order to detect microorganisms in the semen will be a complete study of male health and the ability to conceive if a man wishes to donate semen during donation and artificial insemination.

Bacteriological sperm culture can be prescribed not only for diagnostic purposes, but also to correct the treatment of already detected diseases, that is, a bacteriological analysis can be performed for the sensitivity of microflora to antibiotics. Depending on the results of the study, a list of the most optimal drugs containing antibiotics for the treatment of a bacteriological or viral infection in this particular person will be obtained. After the treatment, it is necessary to pass a second semen culture to confirm its effectiveness and exclude errors.

Method and course of sperm donation for culture

Usually, the delivery of ejaculate occurs through masturbation, or by irritating a special sensitive nerve center with irritating electrodes that are inserted into the rectum, it is also possible to use vibrating massage of the penis. The results and reliability of the micro-examination can be influenced by infectious and chronic diseases that the patient has suffered during his life and the medications he takes.

Another way to obtain semen is to collect postcoital secretions without using barrier contraceptives. Postcoital sperm must be delivered to the laboratory no later than one hour after receiving the material, and at the same time the proper temperature must be observed, corresponding to normal body temperature.

After receiving the secretions, they are collected in a special sterile jar with a wide mouth and the sperm culture tank should be performed as soon as possible, as well as the conditions for transporting the biomaterial. Sowing ejaculate is carried out on a special nutrient medium under conditions with a temperature optimal for the growth of a culture of bacteria, for some microorganisms it can be a thermostat with the temperature of a human body.

During reproduction, the culture of microorganisms is determined in the form of colonies of a certain characteristic type (color, shape, plane of growth of bacteria), according to which and some other properties (smell, for example) diagnostics is performed under a microscope. This process, together with the determination of antibiotic sensitivity, can take 5-8 days, after which a spermogram result can be obtained. The analysis is deciphered by a specialist microbiologist, and the doctor writes a conclusion, if the results deviate from the norm, the patient will be prescribed treatment.

Sperm for sowing shall be submitted if such necessary conditions are met

In order for the result to be as accurate and reliable as possible and not to have to take the analysis several more times, a number of conditions must be met in preparation for the research:

The patient's bladder must be emptied, and the patient's genitals and hands must be clean, the following is a prerequisite for abstaining from sexual intercourse, visiting a bathhouse, drinking alcohol and taking medications that can affect the test result, during 3-5 days before delivery. Heavy physical activity and stress should also be avoided, as they can affect sperm count and can reduce the percentage of active male germ cells. There may also be such a problem: an urgent bacterial culture was submitted after only a short time (a week) after the infection, which will most likely affect the results.

Before submitting the sperm culture for the microflora, the laboratory assistant needs to clarify which groups of microorganisms the ejaculate sowing is aimed at, since each microorganism needs to prepare a special nutrient and diagnostic medium.

It is also recommended to eat properly and limit or completely eliminate the use of salty, smoked, soda, fast food and other fatty foods, as such a diet can negatively affect the motor ability of cells and, in general, worsen the quality of sperm.

It is also worth warning that in order to confirm the reliability of the result, inoculation on microflora may have to be carried out several times with an interval of several weeks, or, if the analysis is submitted for the third time or more, the interval may increase to several months. This may be required if you violate any prescriptions for preparation for analysis.

Recommendations after receiving the results and their interpretation

Decoding is carried out using macroscopic and microscopic data.

The macroscopic parameters include:

• The volume of ejaculate (it consists of a liquid part or plasma produced by several glands (prostate, seminal vesicles, testicles), and formed elements, that is, the cellular component of the ejaculate - the sperm proper) normally it should be 1.5 ml or more, if the volume is less, it means that some of the glands does not work as it should or the narrowing of the ejaculatory ducts, there may be other reasons.
• sperm pH should be close to average, slightly shifted to the alkaline side (7.2 - 8.0), if the acid-base balance is lower, this indicates the presence of a chronic infection, if the balance is increased, then this is a signal that there is an acute infection.
• Viscosity is determined by the time interval required for a viscous, dense and thick mass to turn into a liquid consistency, a fluid substance at room temperature, normally this process takes about an hour.
• The color and smell of ejaculate, although they do not have a great diagnostic value, are paid attention to when examining them. A pinkish tint of sperm is alarming, which may indicate an admixture of blood, and a transparent shade, which may indicate an insufficient number of sperm cells (below normal), but these data should be confirmed microscopically.

Microscopically assess such qualities of cells as:

• amount: total concentration (39 and more) and concentration in 1 ml of the test material (not less than 15);
• general motility of germ cells (40 is the minimum value for the norm);
• cell viability (not less than 58);
• the morphology of cells, that is, their structure should not be greatly changed, as this also affects their mobility and viability.

In case of poor test results, a second examination is prescribed after several months and a course of treatment.