Spermatozoa, Determinants of Male Fertility

Spermatozoa are cells from the male reproductive system that are secreted together with semen when a person ejaculates. Perfect and quality spermatozoa are one of the keys to success in the fertilization process to create pregnancy. Come on, know the characteristics of healthy and quality spermatozoa here! Spermatozoa are carriers of male genetic material that determines the sex of children through X or Y chromosomes. The function of spermatozoa is to fertilize an egg in the process of fertilization, as well as to create new organisms called zygotes, which will develop from being an embryo to becoming a fetus.

Structure and Characteristics of Spermatozoa

Spermatozoa or sperm cells consist of 3 parts, namely:

• Head

This is the core part of the spermatozoa which contains genetic material in the form of chromosomes. Hyaluronidase enzymes released from the head of spermatozoa function to destroy hyaluronic acid in the egg, so that sperm easily enter it.

• Neck and middle

Located between the head and tail, these two parts serve as a link between the two ends of sperm cells. This section contains mitochondria that function to produce energy for survival and movement of spermatozoa to the egg.

• Tail

This part also known as flagellum is a spermatozoa, which allows sperm to swim quickly into the female reproductive tract.

Morphology, or the size and shape of spermatozoa, can influence the success rate of fertilization. If more than 50 percent of sperm is abnormally shaped, it can reduce a man's fertility rate. Normal sperm have an oval head with a long tail, while abnormal sperm have a defect in the head or tail, such as a large head, a bent tail, or a double tail. This defect can affect the ability of sperm to reach and penetrate the egg. Abnormalities in spermatozoa can also occur because sperm are not yet ripe, and are not ready and are not yet effective in fertilizing an egg.

Healthy Sperm Quality Criteria

Criteria for healthy sperm can refer to three things, namely sperm count, sperm velocity, and sperm shape.

• Sperm count

Normal sperm count is between 15 million and 120 million sperm per milliliter of semen that you release during ejaculation. If the sperm count falls below this range, it will reduce the chance of conception.

• Motility

The speed of movement or motility also affects sperm quality. Quality sperm is sperm that is able to move quickly to the egg and fertilize it. At least 50% of spermatozoa need to be able to move normally within 1 hour after ejaculation to support the fertilization process.

• Structure or shape of sperm

Healthy sperm also has an oval head structure with a long tail. The tail is useful to help sperm swim towards the egg. The more sperm in your normal shape, the easier it will swim to reach the egg.

In addition, the amount, thickness, pH, and concentration of semen also affect sperm quality. Abnormalities in spermatozoa can make fertilization difficult, because sperm have difficulty reaching and penetrating the egg. This can be caused by certain conditions, such as:

• Infertility.
• Diseases, such as diabetes and infections.
• Drug side effects.
• Smoking habit.
• Hormone disorders.
• Genetic disorders.
• Radiation exposure.

Spermatozoa Examination with Sperm Analysis

To identify abnormalities in parts of the spermatozoa, such as the head, neck and middle part, or the sperm tail, an examination procedure called sperm analysis or semen analysis is needed. Sperm analysis is useful for analyzing sperm health and survival. This examination will evaluate several factors that play a role in sperm quality, namely:

• Sperm count
• Sperm shape
• Sperm movement
• Semen volume
• The thickness of semen
• pH of semen
• White blood cells in semen

This examination is recommended for married couples who have long had sex routinely but do not have a baby. This test will help the doctor determine whether a man is fertile or not. Nevertheless, men with abnormal sperm analysis results might still be able to become a father, although it will take longer. For married couples who do not allow conception naturally, can undergo IVF procedures. For spermatozoa to have good quality, you need to adopt a healthy lifestyle to improve sperm quality. Consult with a specialist andrologist or obstetrician, to get further advice according to your condition and your partner.