 Allergies [27]
Allergy is a disorder of the immune system often also referred to as atopy.
Antidepressants [29]
An antidepressant is a psychiatric medication used to alleviate mood disorders, such as major depression and dysthymia.
Arthritis [12]
Arthritis is a group of conditions involving damage to the joints of the body.
Cancer [26]
Cancer is a class of diseases in which a group of cells display uncontrolled growth
Cardio & Blood [1]
Risk factors for heart disease: infections
Cholesterol [2]
A fat-like substance called a lipid. It is used to build cell membranes, hormones and bile acids
Diabetes [23]
The inability of the body to produce, or the inability to metabolize, the human hormone insulin; Diabetes insipidus, usually a disorder of the ...
Epilepsy [6]
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent unprovoked seizures
Gastrointestinal [2]
The digestive tract is the system of organs within multicellular animals that takes in food...
General Health [144]
The infant, child or young person?s current health condition
Herbal [18]
Herbal tea, herbal medicine
Hormonal [21]
Hormones - Proteins produced by organs of the body that trigger activity in other locations.
Men's Health [1]
For men on fitness, health, sex, caree
Pain relief [16]
Pain management is the medical discipline concerned with the relief of pain.
Skin care [15]
The skin is the outer covering of the body
Weight Loss [21]
Loss of body weight by dieting or due to various easting disorders or medical conditions.
Women's Health [20]
Find information on women's health issues, and lifestyle at the Women's Health
Awaiting moderation 17719 Article
|
Male fertility tests: 'hamster' test, white blood cells and hormone tests MALE FERTILITY TESTS: 'HAMSTER' TEST, WHITE BLOOD CELLS AND HORMONE TESTS
Sperm Penetration Assay or 'Hamster' Test
This is a test which uses hamster eggs to see whether the sperm can penetrate the eggs. Human sperm are able to penetrate hamster eggs but they cannot (thankfully!) develop into embryos. For the test the zona pellucida (outer layer) of the hamster eggs is removed and the doctors observe how many sperm can penetrate each egg. I doubt the value of this test because if the outer layer of the egg has been removed then it does not replicate the situation between a man and woman, where the sperm has to penetrate the outer layer of the egg for fertilisation to take place. It also suggests that you can compare a woman's egg and a hamster's egg. This test may result in totally worthless information and also involves the unnecessary use of another animal.
White Blood Cells
Immature sperm appear as round cells in the semen before they develop into their characteristic tadpole-like shape. White blood cells are also round and it is not easy to distinguish the two in a sample so special stains are used. It is important to know whether white blood cells are present because they can cause infertility. They could indicate an infection in the urinary tract. If white blood cells are noticed then further investigations are needed to rule out ordinary bacteria or an infection like Chlamydia.
Hormone Tests
Hormones may be tested and these could include FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone and thyroid hormones. If FSH levels are high, it may indicate that there is a problem with sperm production in the testes. Giving high doses of testosterone as a medication can actually reduce the sperm count; so we come back once again to the idea of balance, with the hormone needing to be just right, neither too high nor too low. Some medications, such as clomiphene citrate and tamoxifen, have been used to treat male infertility but they are controversial and we do not know how beneficial they are.
*4/73/5*
MEN’S HEALTH
«Online Pharmacy no Prescription»
 Print
Viewed: 274
| Keywords for this page: Male fertility tests: 'hamster' test, white blood cells and hormone tests |
|
|
Fresh materia
What are symptoms of endometriosis: bowel symptoms, bladder symptoms, infertility