what is sperm morphology

Sperm morphology refers to the size, shape, and appearance of a mans sperm. It is one of the factors examined as part of a semen analysis to evaluate male infertility. Sperm morphology results are reported as the percentage of sperm that appear normal when semen is viewed under a microscope. A normal human sperm has an oval head like a paddle, a neck, a middle section, and a tail. The head shape is important because it affects the sperm’s ability to dissolve the outer surface of an egg and fertilize it. Abnormal sperm morphology can contribute to male infertility, and some percentage of ejaculated sperm always has an irregular shape, which is normal and may not even affect that sperm’s ability to fertilize eggs. However, certain structural problems can prevent sperm from entering an egg. The percentage of normal sperm morphology ranges indicate what percent of sperm are considered normal in size and shape, and these sperm are the most likely to be able to fertilize an egg. If a man has a large number of abnormally shaped sperm, it is called teratozoospermia or teratospermia. Ultimately, a doctor will look at sperm morphology together with count and motility, as well as any other tests to make an informed judgment about fertility potential.