Warning signs of infertility due to clumpy semen.

Dr. Vo Duy Tam, from the Men's Health Center, said the center recently received a 29-year-old male patient from Ho Chi Minh City. For the past two weeks, the patient's sperm had been clumping, causing him to worry about his inability to have children.

After inquiring about the patient's medical history, Dr. Tam found nothing unusual. Examination of the genitals revealed a normal penis and testicles. The doctor ordered several diagnostic tests.

Dr. Vo Duy Tam, from the Men's Health Center, advises a patient. Photo: Men's Health

The semen analysis results showed that the patient's semen was clumpy, suggesting an infection in the seminal ducts. White blood cells in the semen can produce free radicals, negatively impacting sperm.

"Normal semen after ejaculation is quite thick, has a slightly fishy odor, is cloudy white or grayish white, and sometimes contains gelatinous substances that look like jelly particles. The semen will quickly liquefy and become clear within about 15-30 minutes," Dr. Tam explained.

An adult male can produce 100-200 million sperm in a single ejaculation. The percentage of motile sperm can be over 32% and the viability rate over 58%. Semen is usually free of foreign cells, especially white blood cells, or may contain them in small numbers.

According to Dr. Tam, semen clumping is also common in men. However, it is necessary to distinguish between clumping that is a normal, colloidal structure of semen and a pathological condition.

If semen clumping is determined to be due to a bacterial infection, this is a risk factor affecting fertility. This is because an infection that is not treated properly and promptly can leave lasting effects on the vas deferens, causing inflammation and blockage of one or both vas deferens. Sperm may then have difficulty or be unable to travel through the vas deferens to the outside.

The aforementioned male patient showed positive changes after treatment with antibiotics and medications to improve sperm quality. After more than 14 days of monitoring, the semen analysis showed a significant decrease in white blood cell count, and the quality and quantity of sperm increased to normal levels. The clumping of the semen also subsided, and the semen was grayish-white and odorless.

" Clumped semen may not necessarily be a sign of a disease, but it should not be taken lightly, especially when accompanied by symptoms suggesting a medical condition. Semen analysis and consultation with urologists are essential. If a disease causing clumping is identified, thorough and accurate treatment is necessary to avoid lasting effects on male fertility," Dr. Tam advised.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/suc-khoe/canh-bao-vo-sinh-vi-tinh-dich-von-cuc-20230615160517684.htm