Importance of Sperm Morphology

UPDATED ON 15th MAR. 2023

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Importance of Sperm Morphology

In our previous blog, we have already discussed the structure of the sperm and how it formed. So if you haven’t checked it yet, we recommend you do so. It will give you a better understanding of sperm structure.

As we already know, sperm is divided into three main parts.

Head :
A region that stores DNA (i.e. Genetic information) in the nucleus.

Middle Piece :
It acts as the powerhouse or battery of the Sperm cell.

Tail :
This part is vital for the movement of the sperm.

Understanding this structure is very important before moving ahead.

The structure of this sperm cell is unique and for good reasons! Every part and its shape plays a vital role in the process of conceiving.

Let’s understand the function of each part one by one.

The Function of different parts of the Sperm Cell

Tail:
To understand this, you must first understand the structure of the female reproductive system. The vagina, an opening where intercourse takes place, is connected to the uterus. This uterus is connected by the fallopian tubes connected to the ovaries.

When the ovaries release an egg, it moves to the fallopian tube. So when the sperm enters the vagina, it has to swim towards the egg through the uterus and reach the fallopian tube.

This is where its tail comes into action. It helps sperm cells swim easily towards the egg. If there is some defect in the tail, it cannot swim and cannot reach the egg.

Middle Piece:
During the movement, the sperm cells need energy. This is where the Middle Piece comes to the rescue. It has a structure called Mitochondria.

This structure acts as the battery or the powerhouse of the sperm cell. It provides the necessary energy to the sperm cell and helps it move towards the egg.

Head:
A female egg is surrounded by multiple cells called cumulous. These cells form a protective barrier around the egg. So when a sperm cell reaches the egg, it has to pass through this layer of cumulous cells to fertilize the egg. This is where the Head comes into play.

It pushes the cumulous, and the acrosomal cap releases an enzyme that separates cumulous cells from the egg and creates an opening. Once the opening is created, a sperm cell can fertilize the egg. So if there is any defect in the acrosomal cap, sperm cannot fertilize the egg.

Now let’s understand the defects in sperm morphology

Defects in Sperm Morphology

There are multiple defects observed in the sperm cell. Depending on the region of the defect, it can have varied effects on the ability of a man to impregnate his partner. Let’s understand the most common ones.

1.   Head Defect:

Also known as Globular Head, it’s a condition where there is an issue with the sperm cell’s Head or acrosomal cap. Such defective cells cannot penetrate the cumulous cells around the egg to fertilize it.

2.   Tail Defect:

There is numerous forms of tail defects. E.g., either the tail is too short that it is unable to move the sperm even after trying hard, or there are two tails instead of one, and hence there is no proper movement of the sperm cell.

3.   Middle-piece Defects:

Middle-piece defects include smaller Mitochondria. The smaller Mitochondria means the sperm cell has less energy for travelling. So most probably, it won’t be able to reach the egg for fertilization.

4.   Neck Defect:

In this condition, the Sperm Cell bends between the Head and the middle piece. Such a bent sperm cannot move and reach the egg for fertilization.

These are the most common sperm defects we regularly observe in the patients at Shree IVF Clinic. It might surprise you that even a healthy male has 30 to 40% defective sperm cells in his Semen! This simply means minor defects in Sperm Morphology are not the end of the world!

But if the defects are extensive and most of the sperm cells have some kind of issue, a male might not be able to conceive.

Also Read : Treatment for the Sperm Morphology

Wrapping up

We hope this blog has given you a good understanding of the defects in Sperm Morphology and its effects on the ability to conceive. Do not forget to check out our next blog, which explains the treatments for sperm morphological defects.

At Shree IVF Clinic, we strongly believe that a patient needs the right guidance. Here, if there is a possibility that a patient can conceive a child without IVF, that’s our first preference. So do not get misguided and choose the right clinic that offers the right treatment along with the right guidance.

Meanwhile, if you need any more information on sperm morphological defects, feel free to contact us. We will be happy to assist.

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Azoospermia

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