Nice Sperm

Nice Sperm
Many people use the terms sperm and semen interchangeably. However, sperm and semen are actually two different bodily products, though both are related to male reproduction.
In this article, I’ll cover the differences between sperm and semen and answer the questions “what does sperm look like” and “what does semen look like.” I’ll also talk about how you can tell if your sperm and semen are healthy.
Sperm and semen are both related to human reproduction. Men produce semen, which contains sperm. Semen (also known as seminal fluid) is a greyish white bodily fluid secreted by the gonads of men during ejaculation. Sperm is the male reproductive cell, which is what actually fertilizes a female egg.
Semen’s job is to protect sperm and help it get into the female body. Semen is alkaline, so it protects sperm from the acidity of the female reproductive fluid. Semen also contains fructose, which sperm use for energy as they swim up through the female reproductive system searching for an egg to fertilize. Healthy semen is viscous, grey-white in color, and easy to see with the naked eye.
Sperm, on the other hand, is tiny. From head to tail, sperm cells are about 50 micrometers long – much too small to see with the naked eye. Sperm cells are made of three basic parts: the head (which holds genetic material), the middle part (which provides energy), and the tail (the flagellum). Sperm are carried in semen and then swim (at a rate of about 8 inches per hour) in search of egg cells after ejaculation. Sperm cells actually contain the genetic material to fertilize an egg.
Sperm cells are tiny – much too small to be seen by the human eye. Sperm have an egg-shaped head, with smooth edges, that’s between 2-4 microns long. The sperm’s neck and tail together are about 45 microns long.
Sperm thrive in wet and warm environments, so they’ll die immediately after semen dries on a surface like bedding or clothing. They can live for a longer time in an environment such as a warm bath and can survive for up to five days in a woman’s body.
Men produce a ton of sperm – and they release a lot of them during ejaculation. It’s estimated that around 100 million sperm are released in an average ejaculation, and only one of those is needed to fertilize an egg.
Semen is the grey-white liquid released during ejaculation. One millimeter of semen normally contains millions of sperm cells. However, the majority of semen is made up of glands secretions, which protect the sperm from the acidity of the female body and give the sperm cells energy for their arduous search for the female egg.
Semen is first ejaculated as a gel and liquefies later. Semen begins as gel and takes up to 60 minutes to turn liquid. If your semen doesn’t clot and then liquify, it’s a sign there may be something wrong with your reproductive system.
What does healthy sperm look like versus what does unhealthy sperm look like?
Worried that there’s something wrong with your semen? Here are three signs that something may be wrong with your semen.As always, if you’re concerned about your health, you should visit a doctor, who can help diagnose and treat different problems.
Problems with ejaculation are one of the leading signs that something may be wrong with your reproductive system.
The basic way to tell that you’re having problems with ejaculation is if ejaculation isn’t normal for you – e.g., you have a hard time ejaculating or, when you do ejaculate, you can only produce a small amount of fluid.
Problems ejaculating can be caused by a number of things, such as retrograde ejaculation (when semen goes back into the bladder), or medication (some anti-psychotics can cause ejaculation disorders). Regardless of the suspected cause, you should always visit a doctor if you’re having problems ejaculating.
Semen should be grey-white in color. Any changes to the coloration of your semen can be an indication that something is wrong.
Yellow or green semen can be an indication of an infection, such as an STI. Red or brown semen can be an indication of blood in your prostate or other part of your body . Both conditions are serious and should be checked out.
If you notice a lump or swelling of your testicles, you may have a problem that affects your semen, and, by extension, your fertility. Swelling and lumps in the testicles can be caused by everything from a blocked tube in the testicles to cancer, so it’s important that you visit a doctor as soon as possible to find out the cause and seek treatment.
Sperm and semen are both related to human reproduction.
What does healthy sperm look like? Sperm are the egg-shaped swimmers that fertilize eggs. What does semen look like? Semen is the viscous grey-white fluid that protects sperm on its long swim.
While sperm can’t be seen with the naked eye, any changes or discolorations to your semen production can be a sign of an underlying health issue and should be checked out by a medical professional.

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Clinical guideline [CG156]

Published:
20 February 2013

Last updated:
06 September 2017

People have the right to be involved in discussions and make informed decisions about their care, as described in your care .

Making decisions using NICE guidelines explains how we use words to show the strength (or certainty) of our recommendations, and has information about prescribing medicines (including off‑label use), professional guidelines, standards and laws (including on consent and mental capacity), and safeguarding.

1.1.1.1 Couples who experience problems in conceiving should be seen together because both partners are affected by decisions surrounding investigation and treatment. [2004]

1.1.1.2 People should have the opportunity to make informed decisions regarding their care and treatment via access to evidence-based information. These choices should be recognised as an integral part of the decision-making process. Verbal information should be supplemented with written information or audio-visual media. [2004]

1.1.1.3 Information regarding care and treatment options should be provided in a form that is accessible to people who have additional needs, such as people with physical, cognitive or sensory disabilities, and people who do not speak or read English. [2004]

1.1.2.1 When couples have fertility problems, both partners should be informed that stress in the male and/or female partner can affect the couple's relationship and is likely to reduce libido and frequency of intercourse which can contribute to the fertility problems. [2004, amended 2013]

1.1.2.2 People who experience fertility problems should be informed that they may find it helpful to contact a fertility support group. [2004]

1.1.2.3 People who experience fertility problems should be offered counselling because fertility problems themselves, and the investigation and treatment of fertility problems, can cause psychological stress. [2004]

1.1.2.4 Counselling should be offered before, during and after investigation and treatment, irrespective of the outcome of these procedures. [2004]

1.1.2.5 Counselling should be provided by someone who is not directly involved in the management of the individual's and/or couple's fertility problems. [2004, amended 2013]

1.1.3.1 People who experience fertility problems should be treated by a specialist team because this is likely to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of treatment and is known to improve people's satisfaction with treatment. [2004, amended 2013]

1.2.1.1 People who are concerned about their fertility should be informed that over 80% of couples in the general population will conceive within 1 year if:
the woman is aged under 40 years and
they do not use contraception and have regular sexual intercourse. Of those who do not conceive in the first year, about half will do so in the second year (cumulative pregnancy rate over 90%). [2004, amended 2013]

1.2.1.2 Inform people who are using artificial insemination to conceive and who are concerned about their fertility that:
over 50% of women aged under 40 years will conceive within 6 cycles of intrauterine insemination (IUI)
of those who do not conceive within 6 cycles of intrauterine insemination, about half will do so with a further 6 cycles (cumulative pregnancy rate over 75%). [new 2013]

1.2.1.3 Inform people who are using artificial insemination to conceive and who are concerned about their fertility that using fresh sperm is associated with higher conception rates than frozen–thawed sperm. However, intrauterine insemination, even using frozen–thawed sperm, is associated with higher conception rates than intracervical insemination. [new 2013]

1.2.1.4 Inform people who are concerned about their fertility that female fertility (and to a lesser extent) male fertility decline with age. [new 2013]

1.2.1.5 Discuss chances of conception with people concerned about their fertility who are:
having sexual intercourse (see table 1 ) or
using artificial insemination (see table 2 ). [new 2013]

1.2.2.1 People who are concerned about their fertility should be informed that vaginal sexual intercourse every 2 to 3 days optimises the chance of pregnancy. [2004, amended 2013]

1.2.2.2 People who are using artificial insemination to conceive should have their insemination timed around ovulation. [new 2013]

1.2.3.1 Women who are trying to become pregnant should be informed that drinking no more than 1 or 2 units of alcohol once or twice per week and avoiding episodes of intoxication reduces the risk of harming a developing fetus. [2004]

1.2.3.2 Men should be informed that alcohol consumption within the Department of Health's recommendations of 3 to 4 units per day for men is unlikely to affect their semen quality. [2004, amended 2013]

1.2.3.3 Men should be informed that excessive alcohol intake is detrimental to semen quality. [2004]

1.2.4.1 Women who smoke should be informed that this is likely to reduce their fertility. [2004]

1.2.4.2 Women who smoke should be offered referral to a smoking cessation programme to support their efforts in stopping smoking. [2004]

1.2.4.3 Women should be informed that passive smoking is likely to affect their chance of conceiving. [2004]

1.2.4.4 Men who smoke should be informed that there is an association between smoking and reduced semen quality (although the impact of this on male fertility is uncertain), and that stopping smoking will improve their general health. [2004]

1.2.5.1 People who are concerned about their fertility should be informed that there is no consistent evidence of an association between consumption of caffeinated beverages (tea, coffee and colas) and fertility problems [ 1 ] . [2004]

1.2.6.1 Women who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or over should be informed that they are likely to take longer to conceive. [2004, amended 2013]

1.2.6.2 Women who have a BMI of 30 or over and who are not ovulating should be informed that losing weight is likely to increase their chance of conception. [2004, amended 2013]

1.2.6.3
Women should be informed that participating in a group programme involving exercise and dietary advice leads to more pregnancies than weight loss advice alone. [2004]

1.2.6.4 Men who have a BMI of 30 or over should be informed that they are likely to have reduced fertility. [2004, amended 2013]

1.2.7.1 Women who have a BMI of less than 19 and who have irregular menstruation or are not menstruating should be advised that increasing body weight is likely to improve their chance of conception. [2004]

1.2.8.1 Men should be informed that there is an association between elevated scrotal temperature and reduced semen quality, but that it is uncertain whether wearing loose-fitting underwear improves fertility. [2004]

1.2.9.1 Some occupations involve exposure to hazards that can reduce male or female fertility and therefore a specific enquiry about occupation should be made to people who are concerned about their fertility and appropriate advice should be offered. [2004]

1.2.10.1 A number of prescription, over-the-counter and recreational drugs interfere with male and female fertility, and therefore a specific enquiry about these should be made to people who are concerned about their fertility and appropriate advice should be offered. [2004]

1.2.11.1 People who are concerned about their fertility should be informed that the effectiveness of complementary therapies for fertility problems has not been properly evaluated and that further research is needed before such interventions can be recommended. [2004]

1.2.12.1 Women intending to become pregnant should be informed that dietary supplementation with folic acid before conception and up to 12 weeks' gestation reduces the risk of having a baby with neural tube defects. The recommended dose is 0.4 mg per day. For women who have previously had an infant with a neural tube defect or who are receiving anti-epileptic medication or who have diabetes (see diabetes in pregnancy [NICE guideline NG3]), a higher dose of 5 mg per day is recommended. [2004, amended 2013]

1.2.13.1 People who are concerned about delays in conception should be offered an initial assessment. A specific enquiry about lifestyle and sexual history should be taken to identify people who are less likely to conceive. [2004]

1.2.13.2 Offer an initial consultation to discuss the options for attempting conception to people who are unable to, or would find it very difficult to, have vaginal intercourse. [new 2013]

1.2.13.3 The environment in which investigation of fertility problems takes place should enable people to discuss sensitive issues such as sexual abuse. [2004]

1.2.13.4 Healthcare professionals should define infertility in practice as the period of time people have been trying to conceive without success after which formal investigation is justified and possible treatment implemented. [new 2013]

1.2.13.5 A woman of reproductive age who has not conceived after 1 year of unprotected vaginal sexual intercourse, in the absence of any known cause of infertility, should be offered further clinical assessment and investigation along with her partner. [new 2013]

1.2.13.6 A woman of reproductive age who is using artificial insemination to conceive (with either partner or donor sperm) should be offered further clinical assessment and investigation if she has not conceived after 6 cycles of treatment, in the absence of any known cause of infertility. Where this is using partner sperm, the referral for clinical assessment and investigation should include her partner. [new 2013]

1.2.13.7 Offer an earlier referral for specialist consultation to discuss the options for attempting conception, further assessment and appropriate treatment where:
there is a known clinical cause of infertility or a history of predisposing factors for infertility. [new 2013]

1.2.13.8 Where treatment is planned that may result in infertility (such as treatment for cancer), early fertility specialist referral should be offered. [2004, amended 2013]

1.2.13.9 People who are concerned about their fertility and who are known to have chronic viral infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV should be referred to centres that have appropriate expertise and facilities to provide safe risk-reduction investigation and treatment. [2004]

1.3.1.1 The results of semen analysis conducted as part of an initial assessment should be compared with the followin
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