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- Title
Semen parameters, including WHO and strict criteria morphology, in a fertile and subfertile population: an effort towards standardization of in-vivo thresholds.
- Authors
Menkveld, Roelof; Wong, Wai Yee; Lombard, Carl J.; Wetzels, Alex M.M.; Thomas, Chris M.G.; Merkus, Hans M.W.M.; Steegers-Theunissen, Régine P.M.; Menkveld, R; Wong, W Y; Lombard, C J; Wetzels, A M; Thomas, C M; Merkus, H M; Steegers-Theunissen, R P
- Abstract
In this study, the semen analysis results of a fertile population were compared with those from a subfertile population, in order to establish normal cut-off values for the standard semen parameters with the aid of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The fertile group comprised healthy males (n = 107) without any history of fertility problems, the partners of whom had had a spontaneous pregnancy within one year of unprotected intercourse and were pregnant at the time of the male's inclusion into the study. A total of 103 males from couples attending the infertility clinic, and with an initial sperm count of <20×106/ml were recruited to form the subfertile population. The best discriminating parameter between the two populations was sperm morphology evaluated according to WHO criteria at a cut-off point of 31% normal spermatozoa. The other cut-off values were at 8% for the acrosome index, 45% for motility, and 4% normal spermatozoa for strict criteria. Recalculating the ROC curve cut-off values based on an assumed 50% prevalence of subfertility in an assisted reproductive setting, the cut-off points were reduced to 21% and 3% normal spermatozoa for WHO and strict criteria respectively. For motility, the new cut-off value was at 20% motile spermatozoa, for motility quality at 3.5 (on a scale of 1–6), the acrosome index at 3% normal acrosomes, and the teratozoospermia index at 2.09.
- Publication
Human Reproduction, 2001, Vol 16, Issue 6, p1165
- ISSN
0268-1161
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1093/humrep/16.6.1165