SFA – Sperm Functional Assessment
Semen Analysis provides basic information like;
- Semen Volume
- Sperm Concentration (Sperm count)
- Sperm Motility (sperm movement)
- Normal sperm percentage (morphology based)
However, this basic information is not sufficient & to reduce the risk of cycle failure due to bad sperm additional specialised tests are needed to access sperm quality.
What does the Sperm Functional Assessment (SFA) evaluate?
- Detailed breakdown of the different grades of sperm motility, particularly sperm with rapid progression
- Mean number of defects per abnormal sperm to provide another dimension of looking at the % of normal sperm morphology
- Recovery of sperm, with rapid progression, from the semen sample available for potential assisted conception.
- how well the sperm will swim through mucus secreted by the cervix, the initial barrier to entry to the uterine cavity and the fallopian tube to reach the egg
- whether there are antisperm antibodies coating the surface of the sperm that might impede this process
- If the sperm can penetrate the egg.
After evaluating Female factors this critical information is used for decision make;
- To proceed with Natural timed cycle along with Advance ovulation study
- To perform Advance IUI
- To opt for IVF or ICSI or IMSI