Human Reproduction, Vol. 16, No. 6, 1165-1171,
June 2001
© 2001 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Semen parameters, including WHO and strict criteria morphology, in a fertile and subfertile population: an effort towards standardization of in-vivo thresholds
1 Reproductive Biology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tygerberg Hospital and University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, 7505 South Africa, Departments of 2 Obstetrics and Gynaecology and 3 Epidemiology, University Medical Centre St Radboud, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 4 Biostatistics Division, Centre for Epidemiological Research in South Africa, Medical Research Council, South Africa and 5 Department of Chemical Endocrinology, University Medical Centre St Radboud, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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 <20x106/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.
Key words: fertile and subfertile population/semen analysis/sperm morphology/strict criteria/WHO criteria
6 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology/Epidemiology, University Medical Centre Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. E-mail: R.steegers{at}mie.kul.nl
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  T. G. Cooper, E. Noonan, S. von Eckardstein, J. Auger, H.W. G. Baker, H. M. Behre, T. B. Haugen, T. Kruger, C. Wang, M. T. Mbizvo, et al. World Health Organization reference values for human semen characteristics Hum. Reprod. Update, November 24, 2009; (2009) dmp048v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
W. Ombelet, I. Cooke, S. Dyer, G. Serour, and P. Devroey Infertility and the provision of infertility medical services in developing countries Hum. Reprod. Update, November 1, 2008; 14(6): 605 - 621. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 L. Ramos, G.W. van der Heijden, A. Derijck, J.H. Berden, J.A.M. Kremer, J. van der Vlag, and P. de Boer Incomplete nuclear transformation of human spermatozoa in oligo-astheno-teratospermia: characterization by indirect immunofluorescence of chromatin and thiol status Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2008; 23(2): 259 - 270. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. A. Arap, F. C. Vicentini, M. Cocuzza, J. Hallak, K. Athayde, A. M. Lucon, S. Arap, and M. Srougi Late Hormonal Levels, Semen Parameters, and Presence of Antisperm Antibodies in Patients Treated for Testicular Torsion J Androl, July 1, 2007; 28(4): 528 - 532. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. M. Ho, A. S. T. Lim, T. H. Lim, S. C. Hum, S. L. Yu, and T. F. Kruger Correlation Between Semen Parameters and the Hamster Egg Penetration Test (HEPT) Among Fertile and Subfertile Men in Singapore J Androl, January 1, 2007; 28(1): 158 - 163. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J.R. Spermon, L. Ramos, A.M.M. Wetzels, C.G.J. Sweep, D.D.M. Braat, L.A.L.M. Kiemeney, and J.A. Witjes Sperm integrity pre- and post-chemotherapy in men with testicular germ cell cancer Hum. Reprod., July 1, 2006; 21(7): 1781 - 1786. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
T. B. Haugen, T. Egeland, and O. Magnus Semen Parameters in Norwegian Fertile Men J Androl, January 1, 2006; 27(1): 66 - 71. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
D. Milatiner, D. Halle, M. Huerta, E. J. Margalioth, Y. Cohen, A. Ben-Chetrit, M. Gal, T. Mimoni, and T. Eldar-Geva Associations between androgen receptor CAG repeat length and sperm morphology Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2004; 19(6): 1426 - 1430. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Jensen, H. Leffers, J. H. Petersen, A. Nyboe Andersen, N. Jorgensen, E. Carlsen, T. K. Jensen, N. E. Skakkebaek, and E. Rajpert-De Meyts Frequent polymorphism of the mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma gene (POLG) in patients with normal spermiograms and unexplained subfertility Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2004; 19(1): 65 - 70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. S. Moldenhauer, G. C. Ostermeier, A. Johnson, M. P. Diamond, and S. A. Krawetz Diagnosing Male Factor Infertility Using Microarrays J Androl, November 1, 2003; 24(6): 783 - 789. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
C. Alvarez, J.A. Castilla, L. Martinez, J.P. Ramirez, F. Vergara, and J.J. Gaforio Biological variation of seminal parameters in healthy subjects Hum. Reprod., October 1, 2003; 18(10): 2082 - 2088. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
L. Ramos, J. C. M. Hendriks, P. Peelen, D. D. M. Braat, and A. M. M. Wetzels Use of Computerized Karyometric Image Analysis for Evaluation of Human Spermatozoa J Androl, November 1, 2002; 23(6): 882 - 888. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
R. Slama, F. Eustache, B. Ducot, T.K. Jensen, N. Jorgensen, A. Horte, S. Irvine, J. Suominen, A.G. Andersen, J. Auger, et al. Time to pregnancy and semen parameters: a cross-sectional study among fertile couples from four European cities Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2002; 17(2): 503 - 515. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|