[Knowledge] Practical guide to self-testing sperm quality!

Preface

Recently, I have noticed that many of my friends have started to pay attention to men's health, especially self-testing for fertility.

Today I'd like to share with you some of my experiences of self-testing at home. Just as we pay attention to the condition of our skin and monitor our excretions, it is also a responsible act to check your semen from time to time.

Of course, these tests are for reference only. If you have any doubts or abnormalities, it is recommended that you go to a regular clinic for further examination.

Preparation phase

To accurately measure the state of your sperm, you need to give your body a break. Don't smoke or drink alcohol for 2-7 days before the test, don't stay up late, don't work late and don't go to the sauna.

Try not to have sexual intercourse or masturbate during this time to give your testicles time to produce new sperm.

If you are really unsure, you can take a test every few days and then take three or five consecutive tests to see the results, which is more reliable.

Collecting sperm

It is advisable to collect sperm in the morning and to clean your senses thoroughly with lukewarm water. Prepare a clear glass jar (plastic jars are not recommended as they may contain residue that may interfere with the test).

Your hands may be a little shaky at first, don't worry, you can rub your palms with warm water to warm them up and find a position that is comfortable for you: some people masturbate manually and some people use a high stimulation masturbation cup to help collect.

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If manual masturbation is difficult, you can also use an electric masturbation cup, the point is to maintain hygiene throughout the process to avoid contamination of the sample.

Determining semen quality

There are several ways to determine semen quality:

Semen volume

Generally speaking, the normal volume of semen ejaculated by an adult male is between 1.5-6ml per ejaculation, which is about the volume of half a mineral water bottle cap.

It is important to note that if you find that the volume of semen ejaculated each time is less than 1.5ml or more than 7ml over a long period of time, this may be part of an abnormal situation and needs to be taken seriously.

It is recommended that you record the specific value and time for easy reference when consulting your doctor in the future.

Colour and texture

Normal semen is translucent greyish white or light creamy yellow.

If you find that the semen has an abnormal colour, such as light red, yellowish green, dark red, etc., it is recommended that you do not carry out any further tests, but go to the hospital as soon as possible for further examination.

Such abnormalities may indicate the presence of inflammation or other problems in the body and should not be ignored.

Odour characteristics

Normal semen has a faint fishy odour, similar to heather or oysters, which is mainly due to the amines in the prostate fluid.

However, due to individual differences in the types and levels of various metabolic enzymes in the body, the smell of semen can also vary slightly.

The presence of a pungent, putrid or musty odour, or the absence of any odour at all, may indicate the presence of an infection or metabolic abnormality.

Liquefaction

Freshly ejaculated semen is usually in the form of a gel, sometimes mixed with some small jelly-like particles, and begins to liquefy after a few minutes, usually changing to a watery state within 10 to 30 minutes.

If the semen has not liquefied after 30 minutes or even an hour, this may affect the vitality of the sperm and therefore the chances of conception, so it is advisable to pay attention to this phenomenon.

Thickness

When a clean cotton swab is dipped into the semen and gently lifted, the thin filaments formed by healthy semen will break off naturally within 2 cm.

Be wary if two things happen: either the filaments are completely impossible to pull out like water, or the filaments can be pulled out for more than 5cm without breaking.

These two extremes can indicate problems with the reproductive system.

Tip:

Pay attention to the ambient temperature when observing, it is recommended to observe at a room temperature of about 25°C.

Semen fresh from the body must be allowed to liquefy completely for 15 minutes before observation.

If you notice a clear stratification of the walls of the cup (the top layer is clear and the bottom layer is cloudy) or if there are lumps visible to the naked eye, these are signs to look out for.

To conclude

Self-testing using the above methods can help you to gain a preliminary understanding of your sperm quality status, but please remember that self-testing at home can only be used as a reference indicator and cannot completely replace professional testing.

If you find any abnormalities during the test, such as significantly low or high semen volume, abnormal colour, prolonged liquefaction time or abnormal viscosity, it is best to go to a regular clinic for a full examination.

It's a good idea to keep an eye on your semen from time to time, but there's no need to be overly nervous. Sperm quality is affected by work and rest, stress, diet and other factors, so short-term fluctuations are normal.

It is normal for semen quality to fluctuate in the short term, but it is important to maintain a regular routine, exercise moderately and seek medical advice if you have any problems.

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