The impact of the new 2010 World Health Organization criteria for semen analyses on the diagnostics of male infertility

Abstract

Objective: To quantify the effect of the new 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) semen analysis reference values on reclassifying previous semen analysis parameters and definition of patients with male factor infertility. Method: A uni-institutional retrospective chart review. Men who consulted for infertility during 2012 at Panamá IVI Clinic. The news 2010 WHO criteria were aplied to patients whose spermograms had been analyzed using the previous 1999 criteria, afterwards the reclassification was evaluated. Change or Reclassification were defined as the parameter being above the new reference values, previously being below that proposed by 1999 WHO. Result(s): A total of 255 samples were analyzed, from which 67.5% were reclassified in at least one parameter and 113 (44%) were reclassified as normozoospermics. Using the 1999 WHO values there was a higher prevalence of abnormal findings specially of teratozoospermia that was 96%, while normozoospermia prevalence was 1.5%. With the 2010 values, these were 47% and 46% respectively. Also, with the criteria of 2010, a greater variety of diagnoses was evidenced. 125 patients (49%) were reclassified by morphology, 34 (13%) by motility, 19 (7.4%) by volume and 13 (5%) by sperm count; asthenozoospermia was the finding which showed the highest reclassification rate (69.3%). Conclusion(s): The new reference values resulted in many of our patients, who had had an abnormal spermogram, being reclassified as normozoospermics. This may lead to a different perspective on their diagnosis and treatment. © Todos os direitos reservados a SBRA - Sociedade Brasileira de Reprodução Assistida.