Agglutinaton – Occurs when sperm clump or stick together. This may occur when either husband or wife develops immunity to the sperm. Can only be seen with a microscope.

Asthenospermia – A condition in which the sperm do not move (swim) at all or move more slowly than normal.

Azoospermia – A condition in which there are no sperm in the seminal fluid. This may be due to a blockage of transport of sperm or to an impairment of sperm production.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia – A condition that is born with (congenital) due to the lack of an enzyme needed by the adrenal gland. Normal products of the adrenal gland, therefore, are not produced; the body tries to simulate the gland, and it enlarges (hyperplasia).

Cryptorchidism – Occurs when a testis is not in its normal position in the scrotum. It may be in the groin or abdomen.

Diabetes mellitus – Commonly referred to as “sugar diabetes.” This is a condition in which the production of insulin by the pancreas is reduced or absent. It results in the elevated concentration of sugar in the blood and often urine. Patients with this condition may ultimately have nerve and circulatory problems.

Ejaculation – The ejaculatory process involves 2 distinct events: (1) emission (the deposition of seminal fluid components from vas deferens, seminal vesicle, and prostate gland into the posterior urethra) and (2) ejaculation (passage of this fluid through the urethra and explosion from the urethral opening).

Endrometriosis – The presence of endrometrial tissue (the normal uterine lining) in the abnormal locations, such as the tubes, ovaries and peritoneal cavity.

Genitourinary – Pertaining to the reproductive organs (genito-) and the urinary tract.

Gonadatropins – Hormones that are secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain act on the testicles (FSH, LH).

Hamster Test – A test of sperm function using specially processed hamster eggs and human sperm. The end result of the test or assay is the penetration of the egg by the sperm, i.e., sperm penetration assay (SPA). The egg is not fertilized but only penetrated.

Hematospermia – A condition in which blood appears in the semen and can usually be seen by the naked eye.

Hyperprolactinemia – The increased presence of prolactin in the circulating blood. This may be due to a benign tumor of the pituitary gland (prolactinemia) but is often due to the use of certain medications, e.g.; antihypertensive drugs or antidepressants.

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism – That condition in men when low levels of gonadotropins (FSH, LH) result in lack of normal testicular function (hypogonadism). This hormone imbalance results in lack of normal masculinity and infertility.

Idiopathic Infertility – Occurs when a man has an abnormal semen analysis for which no reason can be found.

Impotence – The complete or partial inability to achieve an erection.

Necropermia – A condition in which sperm are produced and found in the semen but they are dead. These sperm cannot fertilize eggs. Sperm that are not moving are not always dead. Special stains have to be used to make this diagnosis.

Otiegospermia – A condition in which the number of sperm in a semen sample is abnormally low.

Oocyte – Egg, also referred to as an ovum.

Prostate – A gland found in males; it surrounds the urethra, near the bladder and produces fluid that contributes to seminal fluid.

Pyospermia – A condition in which the presence of white cells in the semen indicates possible infection and/ or inflammation.

Retrograde ejaculation – The explosion of seminal fluid backward into the bladder instead of forward through the urethra.

Semen, or seminal fluid – Composed of elements formed by the testes (sperm) and the male accessory glands (prostate and seminal vesicle). Only a small part of the visible ejaculate (semen) comes from the testicle.

Sperm – Exhibit several measurable characteristics:

Testicular failure – Occurs when the testes do not produce a normal number of mature sperm and when the hormones needed for normal sperm production (LH, FSH) are abnormally elevated.

Testicular torsion – A condition in which the testicle twists on itself, cutting off its own blood supply. It occurs most commonly in adolescents. Surgical correction is necessary as soon as possible to save the testicle. It is associated with excrutiating testicular pain.

Varicocele – A collection of vericose veins in the scrotum. Blood flows in an abnormal direction in these veins towards the testicle rather than the normal direction which is always towards the heart.

Vas Deferens – The long tube that transports sperm from the testicles to the urethra.

Vasography – An x-ray picture produced when x-ray dye is injected into the vas deferens. It is used to determine whether a blockage exists.

Viscosity – The thickness of the semen.