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What Is Sperm Motility?

Sperm motility is simply the ability of sperm to propel themselves forward to reach the goal of fertilizing the egg. Immotile sperm are often the cause of infertility in couples.
    • Sperm motility

    Significance

    • There are three main things doctors look for when analyzing sperm: count, motility and malformations. If any one of those things is abnormal, male fertility is compromised.

    Types

    • Sperm motility is monitored and given a score from A through D. A sperm move the quickest while D sperm don't move at all, according to How to Have a Baby: Overcoming Infertility, by Dr. Aniruddha Malpani and Dr. Anjali Malpani.

    Treatment

    • Some men can correct their sperm's lack of motility by taking L-carnitine and acetyl-L-carnitine protein supplements, suggests Thelaboroflove.com.

    Alternative

    • Iin vitro fertilization (IVF) is a type of fertility treatment used for those with sperm motility problems, according to an article by Dr. Jacob Rajfer, "Enhancement of Sperm Motility in Assisted Reproduction."

    Expert Insight

    • Dr. Rajfer suggests it could be possible to "wake up" immotile sperm during IVF by using caffeine analogues.

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