Tubal Reversal Tests: Sperm Tests Explained

We want to maximize every patient’s chance of becoming pregnant after a tubal ligation reversal.

Some test before tubal reversal are helpful and a sperm test is occasionally one of these test.

If the male partner has not fathered any children then a semen analysis can help evaluate who is a good candidate for tubal ligation reversal.These test are easy to do but can be difficult to understand and interpret.

In our first article on this subject, Is A Semen Analysis Needed Before Tubal Reversal?, we provided an overview of what the semen test is looking for.

In this article we will attempt to simplify the semen analysis so readers can have a basic understanding of a sperm test.

Test Before Tubal Reversal: Sperm Testing Results

A semen analysis is one test to consider before having a tubal reversal. A standard semen analysis evaluates these key areas:

Semen volume
Sperm concentration
Sperm motility
Sperm morphology

Normal amount of semen produced is between 2 to 5 milliliters (equivalent of a teaspoon). Low volumes of semen can suggest either a poor semen collection technique or an obstruction somewhere in the male reproductive tract.

Sperm Concentration

Sperm are generally produced in large numbers.

A normal concentration of sperm should have sperm over 20 million sperm per milliliter of fluid (one milliliter equals 1/5^th of a teaspoon).

Normal semen samples can range from 20-200 million sperm per milliliter.

If sperm counts are very low this can suggest a condition called oligospermia (low sperm count) and if no sperm are seen this could suggest azospermia (absent sperm).

Sperm Motility

Sperm are also examined for their motility (movement).

Their movements are classified as rapid progressive, slow progressive, non-progressive, and non-motile. The better sperm should be those with rapid forward progressive movement. A normal semen analysis will have sperm where more than 50% have movement and 25% should have rapid progressive motility.

Sperm Morphology

Sperm morphology (shape) is an important indicator of sperm fertility. Sperm are examined for shape, length, width, etc. At least 10-15% of sperm should have normal shape. There are many different abnormal shapes, which can suggest problems with sperm maturation (growth and development).

What Is A Normal Semen Analysis?

A normal semen analysis is a semen sample between 2-5 milliliters in volume, in which, at least 20 million sperm per milliliter exists, with 25% of the entire population of sperm having rapid progressive movement and 10% of sperm having normal shape. Men with semen analysis less than these amounts could have male factor infertility. Most men will have normal semen analysis.

Necessary Test Before Tubal Reversal

In general most infertility test are not necessary before having a tubal reversal. This is because most women with a tubal ligation have a history of proven fertility. We have published previous articles on testing before tubal reversal: Tubal Reversal: What Infertility Test Do You Need?

Semen analysis is not required before a tubal ligation reversal; however, it is worth considering for men who have not fathered children. The chance of any one man having an abnormal semen analysis is less than 10%.

We do recommend considering a semen analysis if the male partner has not fathered children. Sperm testing is easy to do and can be easily ordered by your family physician.

We will help interpret the test results for any of our patients prior to considering tubal ligation reversal.

[subscribe2]