Hyperspermia

Last updated
-spermia,
Further information: Testicular infertility factors
Aspermia—lack of semen; anejaculation
Asthenozoospermia—sperm motility below lower reference limit
Azoospermia—absence of sperm in the ejaculate
Hyperspermia—semen volume above upper reference limit
Hypospermia—semen volume below lower reference limit
Oligozoospermia—total sperm count below lower reference limit
Necrozoospermia—absence of living sperm in the ejaculate
Teratozoospermia—fraction of normally-formed sperm below lower reference limit

In medicine, hyperspermia is a condition in which a male has an abnormally large amount of semen or ejaculate volume [1] and is generally defined when the ejaculate is above 5.5 mL. [2] It is the opposite of hypospermia, which is defined as a semen volume of less than 1.5 mL.

Hyperspermia alone does not appear to influence sperm health. However, large volumes of ejaculate may have lower relative volumes of sperm, leading to low fertility. [3] [1]

In some cases, high semen volumes can be a symptom of male accessory gland infection. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

Coitus interruptus, also known as withdrawal, pulling out or the pull-out method, is a method of birth control in which a man, during sexual intercourse, withdraws his penis from a woman's vagina prior to ejaculation and then directs his ejaculate (semen) away from the vagina in an effort to avoid insemination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prostate</span> Gland of the male reproductive system in most mammals

The prostate is both an accessory gland of the male reproductive system and a muscle-driven mechanical switch between urination and ejaculation. It is found in all male mammals. It differs between species anatomically, chemically, and physiologically. Anatomically, the prostate is found below the bladder, with the urethra passing through it. It is described in gross anatomy as consisting of lobes and in microanatomy by zone. It is surrounded by an elastic, fibromuscular capsule and contains glandular tissue, as well as connective tissue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pre-ejaculate</span> Clear fluid emitted from the urethra of the penis during sex

Pre-ejaculate is a clear, colorless, viscous fluid that is emitted from the urethra of the penis during sexual arousal. It is similar in composition to semen but has distinct chemical differences. The presence of sperm in the fluid is variable from low to absent. Pre-ejaculate functions as a lubricant and an acid neutralizer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Retrograde ejaculation</span> Redirection of ejaculated semen into the urinary bladder

Retrograde ejaculation occurs when semen which would be ejaculated via the urethra is redirected to the urinary bladder. Normally, the sphincter of the bladder contracts before ejaculation, sealing the bladder which besides inhibiting the release of urine also prevents a reflux of seminal fluids into the male bladder during ejaculation. The semen is forced to exit via the urethra, the path of least resistance. When the bladder sphincter does not function properly, retrograde ejaculation may occur. It can also be induced deliberately by a male as a primitive form of male birth control or as part of certain alternative medicine practices. The retrograde-ejaculated semen, which goes into the bladder, is excreted with the next urination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seminal vesicles</span> Pair of simple tubular glands posteroinferior to the urinary bladder of male mammals

The seminal vesicles are a pair of two convoluted tubular glands that lie behind the urinary bladder of some male mammals. They secrete fluid that partly composes the semen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vas deferens</span> Part of the male reproductive system of many vertebrates

The vas deferens, with the more modern name ductus deferens, is part of the male reproductive system of many vertebrates. The ducts transport sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory ducts in anticipation of ejaculation. The vas deferens is a partially coiled tube which exits the abdominal cavity through the inguinal canal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ejaculatory duct</span> Male anatomical structures

The ejaculatory ducts are paired structures in male anatomy. Each ejaculatory duct is formed by the union of the vas deferens with the duct of the seminal vesicle. They pass through the prostate, and open into the urethra above the seminal colliculus. During ejaculation, semen passes through the prostate gland, enters the urethra and exits the body via the urinary meatus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sperm competition</span> Reproductive process

Sperm competition is the competitive process between spermatozoa of two or more different males to fertilize the same egg during sexual reproduction. Competition can occur when females have multiple potential mating partners. Greater choice and variety of mates increases a female's chance to produce more viable offspring. However, multiple mates for a female means each individual male has decreased chances of producing offspring. Sperm competition is an evolutionary pressure on males, and has led to the development of adaptations to increase males' chance of reproductive success. Sperm competition results in a sexual conflict of interest between males and females. Males have evolved several defensive tactics including: mate-guarding, mating plugs, and releasing toxic seminal substances to reduce female re-mating tendencies to cope with sperm competition. Offensive tactics of sperm competition involve direct interference by one male on the reproductive success of another male, for instance by physically removing another male's sperm prior to mating with a female. For an example, see Gryllus bimaculatus.

Aspermia is the complete lack of semen with ejaculation. It is associated with infertility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sperm</span> Male reproductive cell in anisogamous forms of sexual reproduction

Sperm is the male reproductive cell, or gamete, in anisogamous forms of sexual reproduction. Animals produce motile sperm with a tail known as a flagellum, which are known as spermatozoa, while some red algae and fungi produce non-motile sperm cells, known as spermatia. Flowering plants contain non-motile sperm inside pollen, while some more basal plants like ferns and some gymnosperms have motile sperm.

Hypospermia is a condition in which a man has an unusually low ejaculate volume, less than 1.5 mL. It is the opposite of hyperspermia, which is a semen volume of more than 5.5 mL. It should not be confused with oligospermia, which means low sperm count. Normal ejaculate when a man is not drained from prior sex and is suitably aroused is around 1.5–6 mL, although this varies greatly with mood, physical condition, and sexual activity. Of this, around 1% by volume is sperm cells. The U.S.-based National Institutes of Health defines hypospermia as a semen volume lower than 2 mL on at least two semen analyses.

Male infertility refers to a sexually mature male's inability to impregnate a fertile female. In humans it accounts for 40–50% of infertility. It affects approximately 7% of all men. Male infertility is commonly due to deficiencies in the semen, and semen quality is used as a surrogate measure of male fecundity. More recently, advance sperm analyses that examine intracellular sperm components are being developed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semen analysis</span> Scientific analysis of semen

A semen analysis, also called seminogram or spermiogram, evaluates certain characteristics of a male's semen and the sperm contained therein. It is done to help evaluate male fertility, whether for those seeking pregnancy or verifying the success of vasectomy. Depending on the measurement method, just a few characteristics may be evaluated or many characteristics may be evaluated. Collection techniques and precise measurement method may influence results.

Semen quality is a measure of male fertility, a measure of the ability of sperm in semen to accomplish fertilization. Semen quality involves both sperm quantity and quality

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human penis</span> Human male external reproductive organ

The human penis is an external male intromittent organ that additionally serves as the urinary duct. The main parts are the root (radix); the body (corpus); and the epithelium of the penis including the shaft skin and the foreskin (prepuce) covering the glans penis. The body of the penis is made up of three columns of tissue: two corpora cavernosa on the dorsal side and corpus spongiosum between them on the ventral side. The human male urethra passes through the prostate gland, where it is joined by the ejaculatory duct, and then through the penis. The urethra traverses the corpus spongiosum, and its opening, the meatus, lies on the tip of the glans penis. It is a passage both for urination and ejaculation of semen

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Semen</span> Reproductive biofluid of male or hermaphroditic animals

Semen, also known as seminal fluid, is an organic bodily fluid created to contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize the female ovum. Semen is produced and originates from the seminal vesicle, which is located in the pelvis. The process that results in the discharge of semen from the urethral orifice is called ejaculation. In humans, seminal fluid contains several components besides spermatozoa: proteolytic and other enzymes as well as fructose are elements of seminal fluid which promote the survival of spermatozoa, and provide a medium through which they can move or "swim". The fluid is adapted to be discharged deep into the vagina, so the spermatozoa can pass into the uterus and form a zygote with an egg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ejaculation</span> Euphoric stimulative semen discharge of the male reproductive tract

Ejaculation is the discharge of semen from the male reproductive tract as a result of an orgasm. It is the final stage and natural objective of male sexual stimulation, and an essential component of natural conception. Ejaculation can occur spontaneously during sleep, and is a normal part of human sexual development. In rare cases, ejaculation occurs because of prostatic disease. Anejaculation is the condition of being unable to ejaculate. Ejaculation is usually very pleasurable for men; dysejaculation is an ejaculation that is painful or uncomfortable. Retrograde ejaculation is the condition where semen travels backwards into the bladder rather than out of the urethra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Male accessory gland infection</span> Medical condition

Male accessory gland infection (MAGI) is a condition with signs of inflammation involving one or more sites in the male genital tract. Diagnosis is made according to parameters defined by the World Health Organization, and it is particularly made in relation to infectious or inflammatory causes of male infertility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Human sperm competition</span>

Sperm competition is a form of post-copulatory sexual selection whereby male ejaculates simultaneously physically compete to fertilize a single ovum. Sperm competition occurs between sperm from two or more rival males when they make an attempt to fertilize a female within a sufficiently short period of time. This results primarily as a consequence of polyandrous mating systems, or due to extra-pair copulations of females, which increases the chance of cuckoldry, in which the male mate raises a child that is not genetically related to him. Sperm competition among males has resulted in numerous physiological and psychological adaptations, including the relative size of testes, the size of the sperm midpiece, prudent sperm allocation, and behaviors relating to sexual coercion, however this is not without consequences: the production of large amounts of sperm is costly and therefore, researchers have predicted that males will produce larger amounts of semen when there is a perceived or known increase in sperm competition risk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seminal fluid protein</span> Non-sperm component of semen

Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) or accessory gland proteins (Acps) are one of the non-sperm components of semen. In many animals with internal fertilization, males transfer a complex cocktail of proteins in their semen to females during copulation. These seminal fluid proteins often have diverse, potent effects on female post-mating phenotypes. SFPs are produced by the male accessory glands.

References

  1. 1 2 Cooke, S.; Tyler, J. P. P.; Driscoll, G. L. (1995). "Andrology: Hyperspermia: the forgotten condition?". Hum. Reprod. 10 (2): 367–368. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a135944. PMID   7769063.
  2. Padubidri; Daftary (2011). Shaw's Textbook of Gynaecology, 15e. p. 204. ISBN   9788131225486
  3. Zhang, Yue-juan; Zhong, Jian; Zhu, Wei-jie (2015-12-01) [2015-07-15]. "Evaluation on sperm parameters of ejaculates with hyperspermia". Journal of Reproduction and Contraception. 26 (3): 131–134. doi:10.7669/j.issn.1001-7844.2015.03.0131.
  4. Noweir, Hosam A.; Modgil, Vaibhav; Pearce, Ian (2022). "Male accessory gland inflammation (MAGI): an evolving entity". Journal of Clinical Urology. 15 (5): 414–423. doi:10.1177/2051415820987687.