Sperm viscosity what it is and how it affects health

Sperm viscosity is one of the main indicators that doctors pay attention to when a man takes a semen analysis.

A spermogram is an analysis of a man's sperm, with which a specialist can quickly assess the ability of a man's sperm to fertilize a woman's egg. Also, with the help of a spermogram, the doctor can assess the general health of the patient and his reproductive system, in particular, find out whether a man is capable of having children and whether there are infections in his body that can cause subsequent complications.

Spermogram determines semen viscosity quite accurately. This is a unique way to disassemble male sperm into small components and analyze them individually, and then as a whole. Most often, the doctor examines the amount of sperm collected for analysis, how many sperm are in 1 ml of the sample and their total number in the entire ejaculate, semen viscosity, color, odor, and so on.

How to determine semen viscosity

Many factors affect the viscosity of semen, but a man can "correct" some of them on his own. To take a spermogram, a man had to have an active sex life during the last six months, preferably with one partner. But 3-5 days before going to the clinic, sexual intercourse should be stopped.

Also, a week before the planned delivery of the analysis, it is not recommended to visit baths, saunas, a hot bath, not to overheat or freeze. A couple of days before the test, it is better to limit the use of fatty, fried, spicy foods, to exclude the use of alcohol and not to smoke. In addition, you need to stop taking medications and prostate massage if you do it.

Before taking a spermogram for the viscosity of ejaculate and not only, you should not be nervous, worry or work hard

If during 3 months something happened to a man's health, he was very nervous or worked a lot, then it is better to postpone the donation of sperm for a while.

After the immediate delivery of the analysis, in the laboratory it is subjected to coagulation (compaction, like all media containing protein), then within half an hour or an hour it enters the stage of liquefaction.

In laboratory conditions, they begin to study the viscosity of sperm only an hour after the immediate delivery of the analysis. This characteristic is determined and studied by stirring the semen with a special glass rod.

You need to mix the sperm and raise the stick up - this way you will get a thread from the analysis sample, the height norm of which should be from 1 millimeter to 0.5 centimeters. But according to the World Health Organization, the viscosity rate should be up to two centimeters - this is the average for men around the world. The high viscosity of semen is characterized by a thread length of one to two centimeters or more. There is no lower viscosity limit for male sperm.

It is generally accepted that the smaller it is, the better

In medicine, it has long been proven that it is the viscosity of the ejaculate that affects the speed of movement and the general mobility of spermatozoa. Accordingly, it is these factors that subsequently affect the ability of male cells to fertilize a female egg.

Increased sperm viscosity is divided into several options: moderate (up to a centimeter), pronounced (up to two centimeters) and high (more than two centimeters). Increased semen viscosity in the semen analysis may also be accompanied by an increased sperm count in the sample - more than 120 million per 1 ml of ejaculate.

Such a violation in medicine is called polyzoospermia and it does not mean at all that a representative of the stronger sex has a good chance of fertilizing a female egg. Studies have shown that with a large number of spermatozoa, most of them have an irregular structure, development and these sperm are not considered such that they can fertilize an egg. Normally, 1 ml of semen should contain 20 million or more sperm.

Why sperm viscosity can change

The viscosity of male sperm is variable. Why this happens is still being studied by doctors. Experts came to several points of conclusions in their observations.

• there is no exact and reliable reason for establishing increased semen viscosity. It is unrealistic to establish it in 40% of all cases of the disease. Such indicators in men can be both temporary and permanent.
• In some cases, such a viscosity characteristic of the sperm may be congenital. In this case, it is possible to treat the infertility of a couple only when the sperm is viable.
• medicine has confirmed that a disease such as inflammation of the epididymis does not play the most important or concluding role in the appearance and development of sperm viscosity, as was previously believed. Today, the main factor that affects the viscosity of sperm is considered to be a violation of blood circulation in the pelvic organs. It is this disease that is diagnosed in half of the men who asked for help.
• the age of a man also affects the viscosity of semen. In young representatives of the stronger sex, a lowering sperm viscosity index is diagnosed more often. There are also cases when the viscosity of the sperm develops spontaneously, for no apparent reason. The highest semen viscosity is most commonly diagnosed in older men. This diagnosis is called ejaculate viscosipathy. Decreased semen viscosity is usually not diagnosed. But even despite the development of viscosipathy, the couple has a chance of becoming pregnant. Often the cause of the development of this disease is dehydration of the body and it is worth establishing the process of fluid intake - the problem is solved.

Semen viscosity treatment

Many men are interested in how to reduce sperm viscosity. Increased semen viscosity can actually be cured. To do this, as we have already recalled, first of all, you need to solve the problem of dehydration of the body - for this you need to drink at least 1.5 - 2 liters of plain water per day. In any case and the method of treatment, you need to stop using alcohol, anabolic steroids and quit smoking.

Also, doctors recommend revising your diet, enriching it with fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy foods, and not preservatives, spicy and fatty foods.

Do not forget about physical procedures - a man should be active, walk more often, play sports, spend time outdoors and have enough time for rest and good sleep - at least 8 hours a day

If the doctor diagnosed that the reason for the appearance of sperm viscosity lies in the problem of blood circulation in the small pelvis, then specialists can carry out appropriate interventions. For example, prescribe medications that will improve blood circulation (Viagra or other generics) or physiotherapy procedures (baths, mud, electrophoresis), as well as physiotherapy exercises.

If the patient has an idiopathic form of the disease, then he may be prescribed to take drugs containing Guaifenesin - these are Ascoril, Sudafed, Stoptussin. They help to reduce the thickness of the phlegm and help to make the sperm thinner. But such drugs should not be used for those who have been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer, those who suffer from a tendency to bleeding or have allergies, which is accompanied by urticaria or anaphylactic shock.

Congenital increased sperm viscosity can also be treated

She is treated by artificial insemination of a woman with the ejaculate of a man after the sample is treated with a special solution. Thus, you can achieve a decrease in the viscosity of the ejaculate and increase the likelihood of becoming pregnant. Treat viscosity problems in the same way if other options do not help.

Diagnostics of the viscosity of male sperm, as well as conducting the spermogram itself, is an important laboratory method for studying male health. You should not ignore or be ashamed of such a procedure if your health and the ability to have children are really important to you.