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Intended Parents

Rating Sperm Quality

High-quality sperm increases the chances of fertilization and healthy embryo development.

If you’re using a sperm donor for your surrogacy journey, knowing how fertility specialists test sperm quality can reassure you that only the highest quality sperm is available at the sperm banks you are considering.

Contact us online to learn more about your infertility options to live out your dreams of experiencing parenthood. If you need a fertility clinic, we can recommend reputable ones close to you.

How is Sperm Quality Determined? [Semen Analysis]

A sperm quality test, sometimes called a semen analysis, is used to look at:

A lower sperm count decreases the chance of the birth mother getting pregnant and its one of the most common reasons of male infertility. The World Health Organization (WHO) gave a sperm concentration reference range of 15-259 million sperm cells per mL of semen as healthy or normal semen analysis results. No matter how you are trying to conceive, sperm count directly impacts fertility. 

This part of the test looks at the size and shape of your sperm. Healthy sperm have an oval head with a tail and defects in the size and shape could impact its ability to reach and penetrate an egg. The WHO’s reference range for healthy sperm morphology is 4%-48% with the percentage representing the number of healthy sperm in the sample. 

To reach an egg, sperm must move through the female cervix, uterus and fallopian tubes. The Mayo Clinic cites pregnancy being possible with less than 40% of the sperm in ejaculate moving, but that’s the threshold with a higher percentage representing higher motility and a higher chance of pregnancy.

When you work with a sperm bank or fertility clinic to find a sperm donor, you’ll know the sperm analysis has already been performed.

Learn more about how to choose a sperm donor

Does Sperm Quality Affect Embryo Quality?

Yes, sperm quality and embryo development go hand in hand. If you’ve struggled with infertility in the past and are having difficulties creating embryos through IVF, it could be worth undergoing a semen analysis.

Fertility clinics can give you detailed information to determine if a sperm donor may or may not be required for your path to parenthood.

Results should follow a few days after providing your sample, where they will compare the characteristics of the sample you provided vs. the expected values.

Your health care provider may schedule additional tests to assess sperm quality. Multiple tests can help your fertility team get a more accurate picture of your sperm production.

This article from the National Library of Medicine found that the general quality of sperm is a good predictor of blastocyst formation that significantly impacts the chances of at least one blastocyst making it to the end of the cycle.

High Quality Sperm Donors [What to Look For]

When it comes to donor sperm quality, working with professionals like sperm banks can ensure sperm quality is of the highest degree.

Here is what is considered as normal ranges for semen analysis from The Cleveland Clinic: 

  • Semen Volume

    1.5-7.6 milliliters

  • Sperm Concentration

    15-259 million per milliliter

  • Sperm Morphology

    4%-48%

  • Sperm Motility

    40%-81%

  • Time to Liquefacation

    15 to 30 minutes after collection 

  • Vitality

    54%-97%

    Learn more about how to choose a sperm donor
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