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What Is Sperm Morphology?

Jillian O Keeffe
Jillian O Keeffe

Morphology simply means the appearance and structure of a biological entity. Sperm morphology, therefore, is the study of how sperm look under a microscope. Unhealthy-looking sperm can be impaired, so morphological data can help identify fertility problems.

A normal sperm has three basic parts. The tail propels the sperm, allows it to move around, and if it is lucky, get to an egg. The midpiece attaches the head to the tail. Inside the head is the genetic material necessary to give the fertilized egg half the chromosomes to make an embryo.

A sperm cell.
A sperm cell.

A human sperm normally has a long, thin tail, a slim midpiece, and a head with an oval shape. This is the optimum sperm morphology to navigate through the male testes, through vaginal mucus, and up through a woman's reproductive system. The force produced by the tail and the shape of the head also helps the winning sperm to wriggle into the egg for fertilization.

The sperm head contains the genetic material necessary to create an embryo when joined with an ovum.
The sperm head contains the genetic material necessary to create an embryo when joined with an ovum.

If a sperm does not have this optimum shape, it can be at a disadvantage when it comes to performing its basic function of getting to the egg. This is why fertility specialists examine fresh sperm from a client. Healthy men can have many abnormally shaped sperm in one ejaculate, but as long as some sperm with the correct morphology are present, the ability to father a child is not affected.

Morphological sperm data can help identify fertility problems.
Morphological sperm data can help identify fertility problems.

It is when most of the sperm present in a sample are abnormally shaped that fertility problems can arise. Each part of the sperm can be abnormal. The head, for example, can be unusually big or have a funny shape. Sperm may even have more than one head. The midpiece can be abnormally shaped, and the tail can have a coiled shape or a pronounced bend. Two tails can also be present on one sperm. Dead sperm appear different after a stain is applied as the stain enters only the dead cells.

Circulatory problems in the testes may cause abnormal sperm.
Circulatory problems in the testes may cause abnormal sperm.

Abnormal sperm can be caused by a serious problem in production, or they can be caused by damage after production. Permanent conditions are not usually treatable, but temporary problems with sperm morphology can be solved by treating the underlying disease. Examples of possible treatable conditions include drug use, infections, or circulatory problems in the testes.

A man who suspects that he may have misshapen sperm may only feel comfortable discussing the issue with a male doctor.
A man who suspects that he may have misshapen sperm may only feel comfortable discussing the issue with a male doctor.

As well as sperm morphology, a typical fertility examination will assess how well the sperm can move around, which is also more technically referred to as motility. The analyst also checks how many sperm are in the sample compared to a normal level. Even if one sample displays a significant issue with abnormal sperm morphology, another test a few weeks later can have a result within normal limits.

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    • A sperm cell.
      By: Alexandr Mitiuc
      A sperm cell.
    • The sperm head contains the genetic material necessary to create an embryo when joined with an ovum.
      By: Joshua Resnick
      The sperm head contains the genetic material necessary to create an embryo when joined with an ovum.
    • Morphological sperm data can help identify fertility problems.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Morphological sperm data can help identify fertility problems.
    • Circulatory problems in the testes may cause abnormal sperm.
      By: tomschoumakers
      Circulatory problems in the testes may cause abnormal sperm.
    • A man who suspects that he may have misshapen sperm may only feel comfortable discussing the issue with a male doctor.
      By: Monkey Business
      A man who suspects that he may have misshapen sperm may only feel comfortable discussing the issue with a male doctor.
    • Sperm morphology involves the study of sperm under a microscope.
      By: micromonkey
      Sperm morphology involves the study of sperm under a microscope.
    • Higher temperatures can affect sperm production.
      By: drubig-photo
      Higher temperatures can affect sperm production.