Exploring Semen Sexing: What You Need to Know

The male partner releases semen from the penis during intercourse. It contains sperm with either an X chromosome or a Y chromosome.

When the X chromosome containing man sperm fertilizes the female egg, it produces XX and the child is a female. However, when the Y chromosome containing sperm fertilizes the female egg, it produces XY and the child is a male [1].

While naturally there are equal chances of X or Y containing sperm to fertilize an egg, you can increase the chances of one with the help of semen sexing. It is a technique where real sperm containing X and Y chromosomes are separated and only the desired sperm is fertilized with the egg.

What Is Semen Sexing?

Semen sexing is a technique used to sort sperm into those carrying X or Y chromosomes [2]. This method helps choose the sex of the baby.

Sperm with X chromosomes can lead to a girl, while sperm with Y chromosomes can lead to a boy. The sorting is done using special technology before fertilization. This process is often used in fertility treatments when parents have a preference for their baby’s gender.

Uses Of Semen Sexing

You might wonder how to use this technique particularly to benefit couples. Here are two very common applications of semen sexing that are practical and many couples are benefiting from these:

1. IVF

Semen sexing is often used in in vitro fertilization (IVF) to improve the chances of conceiving a child of a preferred sex [3]. By sorting sperm before fertilization, clinics can increase the likelihood of successful implantation and pregnancy with the desired gender.

2. Gender Selection

Gender selection is a key application of semen sexing. It allows parents to choose the sex of their baby by selecting sperm with either X or Y chromosomes.

This method can be used for family balancing or to avoid sex-linked genetic disorders, giving parents more control over the outcome of their pregnancy.

Now that you know about semen sexing and how it works, let's understand some basics about semen or ejaculatory fluid. This will help you in better understanding of different aspects of male fertility.

Components of Semen

Although ejaculation appears as a uniform liquid, it consists of several components. All these components work together and support fertilization.

• Sperm: Sperm is the male reproductive cell that fertilizes the female egg. An ejaculatory semen contains about 200 to 300 million sperms [4].
• Seminal Fluid: It is a specialized fluid Produced by the seminal vesicles. This fluid helps sperm move within the semen.
• Prostatic Fluid: The prostate gland makes this fluid and it protects sperm in the female body.
• Fructose: Fructose is a sugar released in semen by seminal vesicles and is a part of seminal fluid composition. It gives energy for sperm movement.
• Enzymes: When sperm meets egg, the enzymes help sperm break through the egg and make fertilization possible [5].

Characteristics of Unhealthy Semen

The color and appearance of human semen can tell a lot about a man’s reproductive health. Typically, semen is white or grey, but changes might signal problems.

• Yellow Semen: This could be due to an infection or sometimes a mix of urine with semen.
• Green Semen: Greenish semen often suggests an infection, and it’s important to get it checked as soon as possible.
• Red Semen: A red or pinkish color might mean blood is present. This can be caused by infections, injuries, or allergic reactions and should be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
• Lumpy Semen: If semen appears thick or clumpy, it could be a sign of a blockage or another issue.

If you notice any such changes in the appearance and texture of your semen, make sure to undergo semen analysis and consult with a specialist. It is important to remember that early diagnosis of fertility problems helps in the effective management and prevention of infertility.

How Can I Improve My Semen Quality?

Here are five simple ways to improve semen quality:

1. Eat a Healthy Diet: Focus on eating fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants [6]. These help protect sperm from damage, improving sperm health and semen volumes.
2. Exercise Regularly: Staying active boosts overall health and testosterone levels, which can improve semen quality [7]. Just avoid overdoing it, as too much intense exercise might have the opposite effect.
3. Avoid Smoking and Alcohol: Smoking and heavy drinking can harm sperm production, sperm count, and lower fertility. Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol can result in a noticeable improvement in semen quality and other fertility benefits.
4. Stay Hydrated: Drinking enough water keeps semen healthy by improving sperm movement and overall fluid quality. Experts recommend drinking 8 glasses of water a day.
5. Stay Cool: Heat can lower sperm quality and concentration [8]. Avoid heat exposure, like hot baths or tight underwear, and keep the area cool.

Conclusion

Semen sexing is a very helpful tool for couples who want the desired gender of their offspring. Couples with male children may want to use this technique so that their next child could be female or vice versa.

It is a safe and effective technique with minimum risks of side effects if done carefully by experts. If you are interested in semen sexing and want to utilize this technique for your next pregnancy, book a consultation with a specialist for further guidance.

FAQs

1. What to do with cum in semen sexing?

Cum is collected to work in the lab to separate X and Y chromosomes containing sperm. Then the desired sperm is fertilized with the female egg to get the preferred gender child.

2. How does sperm look?

People often worry about how sperm looks like when it comes out to analyze whether their ejaculation is normal. A normal sperm appears whitish-grey after ejaculation and changes in sperm color can indicate health issues.

3. Is sperm healthy to eat?

Sperm is just a bodily fluid with no harmful substances. This is why eating your own sperm is usually not a health risk.

Resources Used

1. Rahman, M. S., & Pang, M. (2020). New Biological Insights on X and Y Chromosome-Bearing Spermatozoa. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 7, 505308. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2019.00388 
2. Vishwanath, R., & Moreno, J. (2017). Review: Semen sexing – current state of the art with emphasis on bovine species. Animal, 12, s85-s96. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731118000496 
3. Choe, J., & Shanks, A. L. (2023). In vitro fertilization. In StatPearls (Internet). StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562266/ 
4. What is Sperm? (2023b, December 22). WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/sperm-and-semen-faq 
5. How Sperm in Egg Leads to Fertilization and the Journey of Sperm and Egg Cells. Conceive Plus®. https://conceiveplus.com/blogs/blog/how-sperm-in-egg-leads-to-fertilization-and-the-journey-of-sperm-and-egg-cells 
6. Choosing The Best Vitamins For Male Fertility. Conceive Plus®. https://conceiveplus.com/blogs/blog/best-vitamins-for-male-fertility 
7. Yeo, J. K., Cho, S. I., Park, S. G., Jo, S., Ha, J. K., Lee, J. W., Cho, S. Y., & Park, M. G. (2018). Which Exercise Is Better for Increasing Serum Testosterone Levels in Patients with Erectile Dysfunction? The World Journal of Men's Health, 36(2), 147-152. https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.17030 
8. Gandara, A. C. (2023). Chronic exposure to warm temperature causes low sperm abundance and quality in Drosophila melanogaster. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39360-7