Semen analysis: Essentials for the clinician

Abstract

Basic semen analysis comprises sperm number, motility, vitality, and morphology. The clinical usefulness has been under debate due to variable reliability and poor prognostic value. There are now reliable and robust methods possible to train and obtain lower interobserver variability and also to control variability with modern laboratory quality control procedures. Still, the results from semen analysis cannot alone give the clinical diagnosis for the subfertile couple; results from basic semen analysis must be combined with other clinical data in order to set a proper diagnosis. In this chapter, basic technical aspects of semen analysis are discussed to give a basis for the clinician to set appropriate demands on the local andrology service. The limitations of basic semen analysis as well as semen biochemistry, antisperm antibody testing, some sperm function tests, sperm DNA damage tests and the present status of stem cell research are also discussed in relation to the clinical usefulness of the methods. © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2010.