Healthy sperm have rounded heads and long, strong tails. Shapely sperm are more likely to make it to an egg.
Quantity. Fertility is most likely if the semen discharged in a single ejaculation (ejaculate) contains at least 15 million sperm per milliliter. Too little sperm in an ejaculation might make it more difficult to get pregnant because there are fewer candidates available to fertilize the egg.
Semen Quality and Male Infertility
The sperm count in white and cloudy semen is better than watery and clear semen. Watery semen may sometimes be considered as an indicator of fertility issues in males. In most cases, clear semen is indicative of a transient problem that may resolve spontaneously.
Healthy semen is usually white or whitish gray in color.
Normally, semen is a thick, whitish liquid. However, several conditions can change the color and consistency of semen. Watery semen can be a sign of low sperm count, indicating possible fertility problems. Ejaculating thin, clear semen may also be a temporary condition with no serious health concerns.
Your health care provider will study your sperm volume, count, concentration, movement ("motility"), and structure. The results of the semen analysis tests tells about your ability to conceive (start a pregnancy). Even if the semen test shows low sperm numbers or no sperm, it may not mean you are permanently infertile.
What does healthy semen look like? Healthy semen is usually a cloudy-white or grey fluid with a jelly-like consistency. 'It is a complex liquid usually white or grey in colour, sometimes yellowish and has a bleach like smell due to its content of alkaline substances,' says Davies.
A healthy ejaculate should have 15 million sperm cells or more per milliliter. Sperm motility: This is only noticeable under the microscope. Sperm cells should move actively to reach the egg. It is considered healthy sperm when 40% or more sperms are highly motile.
Low sperm count symptoms might include: Problems with sexual function — for example, low sex drive or difficulty maintaining an erection (erectile dysfunction) Pain, swelling or a lump in the testicle area. Decreased facial or body hair or other signs of a chromosome or hormone abnormality.
Causes of male infertility
These may include: Abnormal sperm production or function due to undescended testicles, genetic defects, health problems such as diabetes, or infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, mumps or HIV. Enlarged veins in the testes (varicocele) also can affect the quality of sperm.
There is no specific frequency with which a man should ejaculate. There is no solid evidence that failure to ejaculate causes health problems. However, ejaculating frequently can reduce the man's risk of getting prostate cancer. Ejacu-lation can be through having sex or masturbating a few times a day.
The concentration of sperm is what makes the semen cloudy and thick, so if your ejaculate is watery it is possible that you have a low sperm count. This doesn't mean you're infertile (so precautions to prevent pregnancy still need to be taken for couples that don't want to get pregnant).
You should see your healthcare provider any time you notice unusual body changes like yellow or brownish semen with specks. Brown or speckled semen may indicate blood in semen (hematospermia). Yellow or brown semen may not be cause for concern. But it could indicate a problem that requires treatment.
Clear, white, or gray semen is considered typical or healthy.
Does semen texture affect fertility? Thick semen usually results from a higher than normal concentration of sperm in a typical volume of semen, or from having a high number of sperm with an irregular shape (morphology). High sperm concentration often indicates that you're more likely to impregnate a female partner.
Even though only one sperm is needed for fertilization, most sperm cells will not survive the journey from the testicle to the uterus. Of the 200 million sperm deposited near the cervix in an average ejaculation, only 100,000 make it to the womb. For this reason, it's important to have a healthy sperm count when TTC.
Because of the lifecycle of sperm production, once a lifestyle change has been made—such as quitting smoking—it takes about 2 ½ to 3 months for those healthier sperm to appear in the ejaculate. It's also important to note that too much heat on or near the testicles can impair sperm production.
Obesity, too much alcohol, and smoking cigarettes all negatively affect sperm count and overall sperm health. So does stress. In fact, stress can actually cause sperm abnormalities and lower sperm concentration.
No, you can't run out of sperm. Your testes are always making new sperm, which means you'll have a constant supply even if you're masturbating a lot and/or having sex every single day. Having said that, it is possible to have a “dry orgasm”. This is where you reach a sexual climax, but don't ejaculate any semen.
Some at-home tests also check how well sperm can move. For a home sperm test, you collect a semen sample by ejaculating into a small cup. A home sperm test may be appealing because you can do it in the privacy of your own home. Results are often ready within a few minutes.
There are two types of sperm cells: X sperm and Y sperm. X sperm: X sperm on combining with the X chromosome of the female produces a zygote with XX chromosomes.
Avoid ejaculating for at least 2-3 days to make your sperms thicker. Opt for supplements: Opt for supplements that contain vitamin E and zinc. This will make your sperm thicker. Eating raw pumpkin seeds may also boost the thickness level of your sperm.
A study of 250 men who had sperm analyzed at a fertility clinic showed that men who ate higher amounts of fruits and veggies, particularly green leafy vegetables and beans (legumes), had higher sperm concentrations and better sperm motility compared to men who ate less of these foods.