If you are seeking a sperm donor because you are experiencing male infertility, choosing a donor with high the sperm quality is likely a priority of yorus. We’re here to reassure you that all sperm banks run their samples through something known as a sperm quality test. This quality analysis will determine which samples have the highest likelihood of developing into a healthy, high-quality embryo.
You can contact us online at any time to get a head start on your surrogacy journey. We’ll help you fill out your surrogacy planning questionnaire while you wait for your embryos to be created. This ensures that your path to parenthood begins as soon as possible.
How to Test Sperm Quality
Sperm banks typically test for sperm count and concentration, motility and morphology (also known as shape) to determine the level of quality. All these criteria play a vital role in the bank’s assessment of a sample. Here’s why each one matters:
Sperm Count
A lower sperm count means there is a lower chance of the embryo developing into pregnancy. Male infertility, because of a low sperm count, is a common reason why some couples have difficulties conceiving naturally. In healthy men, a normal sperm count ranges from 15 million sperm to more than 200 million sperm per milliliter of semen. Anything lower than 15 million is considered low, and anything within this range or above is considered optimal.
Motility
This term is used to describe an organism's ability to move on its own. Think of it as independent mobility. A higher motility will result in a higher likelihood of pregnancy. Clinics say that around 42% is what they hope to see. Still, you'll need to know the difference between pre- and post-wash motility. Some donor sperm is washed, and some is not. Post-wash motility counts are often more accurate and indicative of a positive pregnancy.
Morphology
The shape of the sperm is another important factor when testing for male infertility. Healthy sperm have an oval head with a long tail, and abnormally shaped sperm will have a harder time penetrating an egg. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 4%-48% is considered a healthy range for sperm morphology.
The percentage indicates the amount of healthy sperm in a sample. For example, if someone has 5% morphology, it means only 5% of the sperm are a healthy shape.
These are just a few of the characteristics that the testing will include, but keep in mind that there may be some others. Every lab and fertility clinic operates differently, so be sure to ask about the metrics they use at that specific lab to test for sperm quality.
What Makes for High-Quality Sperm Donors?
As you may expect, donor sperm quality is influenced by the three main factors listed above. Ideally, high-quality sperm donors will have the optimal ranges for sperm concentration, motility and morphology, plus some other characteristics. As suggested by the WHO, the best ranges are as follows:
- Total sperm count: 39-928 million
- Total (progressive and non-progressive) motility: 40-81 percent
- Progressive motility: 32-75 percent
- Sperm morphology: 4-48 percent
- Sperm concentration: 15-259 million per mL of ejaculate
The WHO uses a range to account for a wide pool of potential sperm donors. The results of the quality tests will vary from donor to donor, so this range is meant to account for that.
Does Sperm Quality Affect Embryo Quality?
Yes, sperm quality does affect sperm quality and embryo development. This is because lower-quality sperm, if it’s used for embryo creation, can negatively affect early embryonic development, as studies have shown.
Adverse effects can begin as early as the second day of the embryo’s development and continue into the embryo transfer itself. Consequently, this can lead to lower rates of success for implantation and, as a result, pregnancy.
To get started on your surrogacy planning questionnaire, fill out our online contact form today. We are always available to help you fill out this crucial form while you wait for your embryos to be prepared.