Physical properties of sperm

The amount of ejaculate

The ejaculate is a mixture of prostatic secretions (30-35 %), seminal vesicles (60-65 %), bulbourethral glands and epididymis (1-5 %).

The volume of ejaculate It depends the function of the glands of the reproductive system. The normal volume of ejaculate varies from 2 to 6 ml. The decrease and increase of the number of ejaculate compared to the norm is extremely rare. Reduction of this indicator is often indicative of congenital absence of the seminal vesicles, especially at low pH (6,5-6,8), and the simultaneous absence of fructose. Increased volume of ejaculate indicates gland hyperactivity.

Color ejaculate

Fresh ejaculate grayish-whitish color with opalescent. The yellowish tint of ejaculate possible during prolonged sexual abstinence or under intense inflammation of the prostate gland or seminal vesicles.

When haematospermia, depending on its severity, coloring ejaculate varies from pink to intense red, sometimes it is brown.

Transparency ejaculate

Normal ejaculate, containing a large amount of sperm, cloudy, milky white. Glassy transparent ejaculate usually poor sperm (severe oligospermia, azoospermia).

The smell of the ejaculate

The smell of fresh normal ejaculate due to the presence therein of spermine, released by the prostate gland, and recalls the scent of flowers chestnut.

The lack of a specific smell ejaculate indicates the absence or reduction of content in the prostatic secretions, that there is a blockage in the groove of prostate. When gnoynovospalitelnyh processes in the urethra, prostate or seminal vesicles odor varies depending on the microflora, caused a pathological process, It can sometimes be putrid.

The viscosity of semen

The viscosity is determined after full dilution of the ejaculate, for which it is thoroughly mixed with a glass rod, which is then slowly removed, and mark-to-face length of the thread, stretching over a stick to break. Normally, this value is 0.1-0.5 cm. The viscosity of the ejaculate can also be determined using gemoviskozimetra, In this case, the relative viscosity of a normal ejaculate varies from 6.0 to 6,6. Research viscosity gemoviskozimetrom ejaculate is more accurate.

Increased viscosity of points the presence of inflammation in the prostate or seminal vesicles. It is combined with increasing time of semen liquefaction and presence of a large amount of mucus. When misses in the ejaculate secretion of the seminal vesicles marked decrease in viscosity and the absence of the phenomenon of coagulation-thinning.

To reduce the viscosity of the ejaculate can be processed in its trypsin concentration 1 mg / ml or skip a few times through the injection needle syringe-type "Record» № 840, avoiding foaming.

Reaction ejaculate

Measurement pH ejaculate It is carried out using a test paper with a range of pH 6,6-8,1, which covers the entire range required for studies. You can define using pH-meter, preferably with a microelectrode.

Normal ejaculate It has a slightly alkaline reaction (pH 7,2—7,6). Much of the alkalinity of the ejaculate indicates hypo- or azoospermia or a large amount of plasma in the ejaculate.

Acidic reaction ejaculate (while the absence of fructose) It suggests it misses alkaline secretion of the seminal vesicles, that there is a blockage in the excretory ducts of both seminal vesicles (but not epithelium atrophy of tubules of the testes). In such cases the plasma ejaculate consists essentially of prostatic secretions, whose pH is 6.6-6.8. Fertility of the semen dramatically reduced due to the failure of an alkali reserve to neutralize the acidic contents of the vagina (in an acidic medium spermatozoa lose their ability to move and die).