Examples of Abnormal Sperm
Sperm morphology is one piece of the semen analysis puzzle. Sperm morphology refers to the size and shape of the sperm. When sperm morphology is tested, they look for a percentage of sperm that seem to appear normal when viewed under a microscope. Abnormal sperm morphology is one cause of male infertility.
When looking at sperm under the microscope, doctors look for sperm that have an oval head and long tail. This is considered normal. Abnormal sperm can have many defects such as head and tail defects including crooked or double tail. These abnormal sperm have a very difficult time reaching the egg and fertilizing it.
Causes of Sperm Morphology
There are many causes of abnormal sperm morphology including:
- infections
- exposure to toxins
- varicocele veins in the scrotum
- fever and extreme heat
- lifestyle
- drug and alcohol use
- testicular abnormalities
How Do I Know If I Have Abnormal Sperm?
First steps in finding out if you have sperm morphology issues is getting a semen analysis. If it’s determined that you do have abnormal sperm morphology, it will probably be recommended by your doctor to repeat semen analysis in a month or so to determine any changes and to tell if the sperm abnormalities are temporary or permanent.
What To Do If I Have Abnormal Sperm Morphology
If your analysis does come back showing abnormal sperm morphology, don’t get too worried without letting your doctor do a full examination. There are things that can be done such as intrauterine insemination or IVF. Your doctor will know the best track of fertility treatments for your situation.
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