Question

Which represents a condition of highly reduced motility?
A. Azoospermia
B. Polyspermy
C. Oligospermia
D. Asthenospermia

Answer 1

The motility of the sperm determines the sperm's ability to move properly across the feminine reproductive tract (internal fertilisation) or to enter the egg across water (external fertilisation). It is also possible to regard sperm motility as efficiency, which is a factor in successful conception; sperm that does not adequately 'swim' will not enter the egg to fertilise it.

Complete Answer:
- Azoospermia is the medical condition of a man whose semen does not contain sperm. It is synonymous with infertility, but certain types are appropriate for medical care. Azoospermia affects approximately 1% of the male population of humans.

- Polyspermy describes an egg that has been fertilised with more than one sperm.

- Oligospermia, oligozoospermia, and low sperm count relate to semen with a low sperm content and is a common finding in male infertility. Often semen with reduced sperm concentration can also display major defects in sperm morphology and motility.

- Asthenozoospermia (or asthenospermia) is a medical term for decreased sperm motility. Complete asthenozoospermia, i.e. 100% immotile sperm in the ejaculate, is recorded at a frequency of 1 in 5000 men. Causes of complete asthenozoospermia include metabolic deficiencies, ultrastructural defects of the flagellum sperm. It lowers sperm production and is thus one of the key causes of infertility or decreased fertility in men. ICSI is the process used to increase the probability of conception. The amount of viable sperm in total asthenozoospermia ranges between 0 and 100 percent.

Thus the correct answer is option(D) Asthenospermia.

Note: In 2015, Eslamian et al. found a link between the structure of the sperm lipid membrane and the risk for asthenozoospermia. Sperms with more polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as docosahexaenoic acid ( DHA), have improved fertility performance. DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is an acid produced by six double bonds, which enables the fluidity of the membrane required for fusion with the ovule.