Semen analysis

Abstract

Semen analysis is performed for evaluation of fertility disorders with or without symptoms of androgen defi-ciency. The quality of semen analysis varies depending on how and where it is collected, and also on the analytical methods employed. As there are both biological and analytical causes for variations in semen quality, standardizing procedures for the collection and analysis of semen should render results from different laboratories comparable. A minimum number of spermatozoa need to be assessed to achieve acceptable values for total sperm numbers per ejaculate and percentages of motile, viable and morphologically normal cells. The assessment of motility and the rationale for seeking, and how to recognize, morphologically normal spermatozoa are provided. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.