HOW MANY SPERM?

The two most important aspects of the sperm count are the actual numbers of sperm per cc and their motility, ie the speed and the quality of their movement.

Motility of the Sperm. More important than the quantity of sperm is the quality and activity of those sperm. Determining percentage are Sperm that are moving and those not moving is another important parameter. There are always a certain number of dead, non motile sperm in the ejaculate. These nonmotile sperm are incapable of fertilization. Only the moving sperm are capable of entering the egg. After the percent motility is determined (that is, the percentage of moving sperm), it is recorded as follows:

• Grade I motility means that the sperm are only wiggling sluggishly in place and making very little, if any, forward progression. These pathetic vibratory-type movements get the sperm nowhere and such sperm are incapable of fertilizing the egg, resulting in pregnancy.
  
  
• Grade II motility means that the sperm are moving forward, but either the speed is very slow or they do not move in a straight line. The sperm that can not hold their remarkable propensity for maintaining straightforward motion are also incapable of fertilization. Some sperm go forward a little and then, instead of continuing undaunted, stop and reverse themselves. Such sperm will simply never make it in the female genital tract.
  
  
• Grade III motile sperm are able to move at a reasonable speed with straightforward progress and accurate homing.
  
  
• Grade IV sperm not only advance straight but do so at an extraordinarily rapid speed. Grade III and Grade IV sperm are sperm capable of fertilization. Grade I and II sperm generally are not.