What do the results of sperm penetration tests mean?
Sperm mucus penetration test
This test uses donor sperm and the male partner's sperm. Both sperm samples are added to a sample of the woman's cervical mucus. Donor cervical mucus may also be used with the woman's cervical mucus.
There may be a problem with the partner's sperm if:
- The donor's sperm penetrates the mucus, but the partner's sperm does not.
- The partner's sperm does not penetrate the woman's or the donor's cervical mucus.
There may be a problem with the woman's mucus if neither the partner's nor the donor's sperm penetrate the cervical mucus.
Normal: | Sperm penetrate the cervical mucus and move through it easily. |
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Abnormal: | Sperm can't penetrate the cervical mucus, or they clump together in the mucus. Clumping may mean that the woman or man has formed antibodies against the sperm. If the sperm antibodies are from the man's body, clumping may also be seen in his semen analysis. |
Sperm penetration assay (SPA)
Results are based on the number of sperm that can penetrate an egg. This can vary from lab to lab. Talk with your doctor to find out if your results are normal.
Normal: | Sperm penetrate the hamster egg. |
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Abnormal: | Sperm can't penetrate the hamster egg. |
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