Reference values of semen parameters for healthy Chinese men

To establish reference values of semen parameters in a residential, geographic, and age representative sample of healthy Chinese men.

From a national study of 1,191 healthy Chinese men, semen samples were analyzed from 105 subjects whose wives or partners were pregnant within the 12 months prior to the date when the semen sample was taken.

The means, fifth percentiles, and percentages lower than the WHO criteria for semen parameters were, respectively: 75.8 x 10(6)/ml, 17.8 x 10(6)/ml, and 6.7% for sperm concentration; 206.9 x 10(6)/ejection, 26.3 x 10(6)/ejection, and 6.7% for total sperm count; 18.9, 3.0, and 79.1% for rapid progressive motility; 49.1, 25.3, and 52.4% for sperm progressive motility; 73.8, 49.3, and 45.7% for sperm viability, and 49.5, 25.2, and 9.5% for normal morphology.

The values of semen parameters for Chinese men are lower than the WHO criteria, especially for rapid progressive motility, progressive motility, and sperm viability, and a different standard for Chinese may be needed.