Sperm Morphology

Hello.
My husband just had a semen analysis done as part of our infertility workup.  The last time he had this test done, which was a year ago, his counts were normal.  However this time, his morphology was low.  Could you please take a look at these results?  We don't have a consultation for a week, and the waiting is killing me.

The concentration = 122.5 x million/ml (Normal is anything >20)
Total progressive = 213.2 x million (Normal is anything >20_
Sperm morphology = 0 normal sperm.  100 abnormal sperm

The doctor's note says Morphology.  Many tapered heads.

Can you please explain what this all means?  And in these situations, do patients usually go right to IVF? And is IVF even possible if 0% of the morphology is normal?

Thanks.

[John Kim, M.D.]

One abnormal semen analysis does not diagnose a male problem. You need at least 2 abnormal at least 70 days apart to make a diagnosis. It takes at least 70 days to get a new batch of sperm to test.  If your husband's morphology was normal 1 year ago by strict morphology, then I think you can consider trying lesser treatment then IVF/ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) like IUI.  However, with 0% normal and if before there was not a strict morphology done, then IVF/ICSI would be the fastest and most effective treatment for you and your husband.
I would recommend that your husband avoid heat ie hot tubs, saunas, bicycling, avoid alcohol and tobacco and take a multivitamin with antioxidant with Vit A, C, E, Selenium and Zinc. He can try FertilityBlend for Men which also contains B vitamins, ferrulic acid, green tea extract and L-carnitine.

[Atia_Julii]

(And just a head's up that strict morphology, or the Kruger method was used for his test)