Sperm cells, or spermatozoa, are highly specialized cells produced by men. Each cell is comprised of three sections. There is a head, midpiece and tail. The sperm cell acts as a transport for male genes. It moves the DNA from the male to the female in an attempt to fertilize a female egg.
The head portion of the spermatozoa has enzymes that help the sperm burrow into the outer wall of the female egg. If the sperm does penetrate the egg, then fertilization occurs. The head should ideally be oval shaped, not round, crooked or pointed. Many sperm cells are not exactly perfect and it takes a lot of misshapen sperm to affect your fertility. Generally, about one-third of your sperm should have an ideal shape. The male genes are carried in the head of the spermatozoa.
The midsection, or midpiece, of the sperm cell acts as the energy source for the sperm. Nutrients are converted into energy in the midpiece. A spermatozoa cell has the main components of any other cell. The DNA is contained in the nucleus, located in the head. The mitochondria and centrioles are in the midpiece and help it to create enough energy to move the tail.
The tail is able to whip and propel the sperm using the energy produced in the midpiece. This whip-like motion should give the sperm a forward momentum to move through the female reproductive system and travel to the egg. Sperm motility depends on the tail being fully functional. Abnormalities, such as double tails or underdeveloped tails, can cause a sperm to move in circles, sideways or not at all. A healthy sperm tail should help the sperm move forward in a straight line. Again, many abnormalities are normal and should not be a big concern when you are trying to conceive unless an infertility specialist tells you that too many sperm are abnormal. This condition is commonly referred to as abnormality of sperm motility.
The sperm has one major function. This is to move forward, penetrate the wall of the egg and fertilize it. Reduced sperm function can be a cause of male factor infertility. Many things can affect your sperm health and function. Medications, illness, temperature, environment and diet are just a few examples. Men with severely low sperm functionality, such as low motility, can change things in their lifestyles and overcome problems. If your efforts fail, then your infertility specialist will give you other options for conceiving, besides through natural intercourse. In Vitro Fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can help you achieve pregnancy. In these methods, the sperm is either placed very near the egg or injected directly into it.
Talk to your doctor about what options can help you improve your sperm health or increase your chances of conceiving.
About the Author: Dr. Eric Daiter (Daiter, Eric), the medical director of The NJ Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine, LLC, a leading NEW JERSEY INFERTILITY CENTER that offers a complete range of MALE INFERTILITY AND FEMALE INFERTILITY TREATMENT. For more information on The NJ Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine and Daiter, Eric please visit www.drericdaitermd.com.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment