The environment in which the sperm is located is like the environment in which the blood cells are located called plasma, and the quality of sperm plasma directly affects the mobility of sperm and their ability to conceive. For men who are unable to have children and whose male reproductive function is affected, most of the checkups focus on sperm, namely: azoospermia, dead sperm, weak sperm, poor semen liquefaction, low semen volume, abnormal sperm and other items, and the cause of these items is often unknown after the abnormalities are found, leading to poor treatment results. In fact, semen examination, in addition to the above items, there are many chemical components that can be examined.
Checking the causes of poor sperm quality brings positive significance to the treatment of infertility.
I. Clinical significance of seminal plasma biochemical examination.
1, different combinations of seminal plasma biochemical markers are analyzed separately to help analyze the causes of azoospermia, oligospermia, weak spermia, teratozoospermia and abnormal semen liquefaction, which are especially suitable for the localization and diagnosis of vas deferens obstruction, where the biochemical indicators reflect completely different from different obstruction sites.
2.Assist in the evaluation of testicular spermatogenic function and sperm quality.
3.It can be used as an indicator for the diagnosis, treatment and efficacy evaluation of testicular and accessory gonadal disorders.
Second, seminal plasma biochemical test is suitable for the following groups.
1, sperm quality analysis is normal, but long marriage without pregnancy
2, those with abnormal sperm quality who need to find the cause
3, inflammatory infections such as prostate, epididymitis and seminal vesiculitis.
4. Those who combine with semen routine as pre-fertility physical examination.
Third, the common male examination items related to fertility.
1, physical examination and imaging examination (testicular ultrasound).
2, semen quality analysis and semen paddle biochemical examination.
3, sex hormones, gonadal function evaluation and analysis.
IV. Common examination items of seminal plasma biochemistry.
1.Quantitative measurement of seminal plasma elastase
When the male genital tract is infected, the lobulated nucleated leukocytes participate in the local anti-inflammatory response by secreting a large amount of elastase to the extracellular area to phagocytose pathogens. In order to avoid excessive damage to tissues and organs by elastase, the body then secretes α1-trypsin inhibitor to neutralize elastase, eventually forming an elastase-α1-trypsin inhibitor complex, and the increased concentration of this complex predicts the anti-inflammatory effect of fractionated nucleolar leukocytes.
Clinical use: Detection of genitourinary tract infections.
2.Quantitative determination of seminal plasma zinc
Zinc is one of the indicators for the evaluation of prostate function. Zinc content of the seminal paddle is useful for the diagnosis of sperm viability and prostatitis, and decreased zinc content leads to testicular hypoplasia and hypogonadism. Zinc is also involved in regulating androgen metabolism, and lower zinc levels can promote the transformation of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, affecting sexual function.
3. Quantitative determination of seminal plasma citric acid.
The citric acid in semen is secreted by the prostate gland, and its role is to complex calcium ions and regulate the concentration of seminal plasma calcium ions, directly affecting the process of semen liquefaction after ejaculation, and the lack of citric acid in semen can lead to delayed semen liquefaction.
The seminal plasma citric acid level is correlated with testosterone level. The seminal plasma citric acid level is an important indicator to help determine the status of androgen secretion and to evaluate the function of the prostate. A decrease in seminal plasma citric acid level indicates impaired prostate secretion.
4. Quantification of seminal plasma acid phosphatase
The seminal plasma acid phosphatase is one of the indicators for the diagnosis of prostatitis and related diseases and the evaluation of treatment effects. The content of seminal plasma acid phosphatase is reduced in patients with prostatitis and increased in those with prostate hypertrophy or early prostate malignancy.