Spermioculture

Generality

Spermioculture is the diagnostic laboratory test that allows the identification of pathogenic microorganisms inside a semen sample.

The possible finding of pathogenic microorganisms in the sperm represents an important indicator of a genital infection, affecting the organs in which sperm and seminal fluid usually flow.

Typically, doctors prescribe a sperm culture for men who complain of: pain or burning in one or more reproductive organs, sperm emission mixed with blood, infertility, severe varicocele, presence of white blood cells in a previous spermiogram, and / or unusual discharge of clear liquid from the penis.
Spermioculture basically consists of two phases, which in temporal order are: the phase of collection of the sperm sample by the patient and the phase of analysis of the sperm sample by specialized medical personnel.
As far as the first phase is concerned, this represents a very delicate moment, which must take place according to precise methods, in order not to pollute the collected product.
As regards the second phase, this consists in "inoculating a small quantity of sperm in different culture media and in" observing if and in which of these culture media the microbial growth takes place.