UNDERSTANDING SEMEN ANALYSIS (WHO CRITERIA)

Macroscopic semen characteristics (Table 1) Source Volume Urethral and bulbourethral glands 0.1-0.2cc Testes, epididymides, vasa deferentia 0.1-0.2cc Prostate 0.5-1.0cc Seminal vesicles 1.0-3.0cc Complete ejaculate 2.0-5.0cc

Characteristics Viscous, clear Sperm present Acidic, watery Gelatinous, fructose positive Liquefies in 20-25min

Commonly used normal semen parameters (WHO) (Table 2) Volume >2.0 ml pH 7.2-7.8 6 Concentration >20x10 /ml Motility >50% Morphology >30% with normal morphology 6 W BC < 1x10 /ml Gradation of sperm motility (WHO) (Table 3) Type of motility No movement Movement, none forward Occasional movement of a few sperm Slow, undirected Slow , directly forward movement Fast, but undirected movement Fast, directed forward movement Very fast forward movement Extremely fast forward movement Score 0 1 1+ 2 2+ 33 3+ 4 Classes of spermatozoa motility Rapid progressive Class A Progressive Class B Class A+B Non progressive Class C Immotile or static Class D Class C+D Normal value >25% >25% >50% <50% <50% <50%

Nomenclature for semen variables (WHO) (Table 4) Normozoospermia Oligozoospermia Asthenozoospermia Teratozoospermia Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia Azoospermia Aspermia Normal ejaculate as defined in tables 1, 2 and 3. Sperm concentration fewer than 20x10 /ml Fewer than 50% spermatozoa with forward progression (categories A and B) or fewer than 25% spermatozoa with category A movement Fewer than 30% spermatozoa with normal morphology Signifies disturbance of all three variables (combination of only two prefixes can be used) No spermatozoa in the ejaculate No ejaculate
6