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Review
. 2012 Jan;14(1):6-13.
doi: 10.1038/aja.2011.58. Epub 2011 Dec 19.

Semen analysis and sperm function testing

Daniel R Franken  1 , Sergio Oehninger
Affiliations
Review

Semen analysis and sperm function testing

Daniel R Franken et al. Asian J Androl. 2012 Jan.

Abstract

Despite controversy regarding the clinical value of semen analysis, male fertility investigation still relies on a standardized analysis of the semen parameters. This is especially true for infertility clinics in both developing and developed countries. Other optional tests or sophisticated technologies have not been widely applied. The current review addresses important changes in the analysis of semen as described in the new World Health Organization (WHO) manual for semen analysis. The most important change in the manual is the use of evidence-based publications as references to determine cutoff values for normality. Apart from the above mentioned changes, the initial evaluation and handling methods remain, in most instances, the same as in previous editions. Furthermore, the review evaluates the importance of quality control in andrology with emphasis on the evaluation of sperm morphology. WHO sperm morphology training programmes for Sub-Saharan countries were initiated at Tygerberg Hospital in 1995. The external quality control programme has ensured that the majority of participants have maintained their morphological reading skills acquired during initial training. This review reports on current sperm functional tests, such as the induced acrosome reaction, and sperm-zona pellucida binding assays, as well as the impact of sperm quality in terms of DNA integrity, and the relationship of sperm function tests to sperm morphology.

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Figures

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The mean descriptive values of the s.d.-scores of 42 technologists from 19 laboratories at the various time points graphically depicted.
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Box Whisker Plots recorded during pre- and post-training workshops for sperm concentration and motility.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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