What is reduced sperm motility known as?

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2021

Explanation

Asthenozoospermia is the medical term specifically used to describe reduced sperm motility, meaning the sperm's ability to swim or move progressively is impaired.
This term focuses on the quality of sperm movement (motility) rather than the quantity (count) or complete absence of sperm or semen.
The prefix 'astheno-' is derived from the Greek word for weakness, directly relating to the 'weak' or poor movement of the sperm.

Option A: This term refers to the complete absence of sperm cells in the semen, not their ability to move.
Option C: This term describes the complete failure to ejaculate semen.
Option D: This term refers to a low concentration or count of sperm in the semen, not their motility.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Male Infertility Terminology and Semen Analysis as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in educating patients and couples undergoing fertility evaluations. Understanding these terms is essential for explaining semen analysis results and managing patient anxiety.
Poor sperm motility is a significant factor in male infertility, as it hinders the sperm's ability to travel through the female reproductive tract to fertilize an egg.
What if? If a patient has both a low sperm count and poor motility, the condition is termed 'oligoasthenozoospermia'. This combined diagnosis indicates a more significant challenge to fertility and may guide the clinical team towards more advanced treatments like ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection).

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept in the question: 'reduced sperm motility'.
This is a terminology-based recall question. The task is to match the definition to the correct medical term.
Analyze the prefixes and roots of the options if possible. 'A-' often means 'without' (Azoospermia, Aspermia). 'Oligo-' means 'few' (Oligospermia). 'Astheno-' relates to weakness.
Systematically evaluate each option against the definition. Azoospermia (no sperm), Aspermia (no semen), and Oligospermia (low sperm count) do not describe motility.
Conclude that Asthenozoospermia, which implies 'weak sperm', correctly corresponds to reduced motility.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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