Semen Parameters: A Review

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) provides guidelines for assessing the various semen variables. Semen analysis is one of the most important predictive values of male infertility. Semen consists of spermatozoa suspended in a fluid medium referred to as seminal plasma. This review describes semen parameters, which include appearance (color), volume, pH, motility, morphology, viability, concentration, liquefaction, viscosity, presence of WBC, and fructose level. These parameters have been found to be important determinants of the functional competence of the spermatozoa. More than 90% of male infertility cases are due to low sperm counts, poor sperm quality, and sperm abnormalities caused by a range of factors, including congenital birth defects, diseases, chemical exposure, and lifestyle/habits. Others include environmental pollutants, exposure to high heat for prolonged periods, heavy use of alcohol, marijuana, or cocaine, smoking, hormone deficiency, infections of the testes or epididymis, older age, previous chemotherapy, previous scarring due to infection, trauma, or surgery, radiation exposure, retrograde ejaculation, and use of prescribed drugs.