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Semen analysis and sperm function tests: How much to test?
1Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, India.
Summary
The updated World Health Organization manual provides new reference ranges for semen analysis, improving male fertility assessments. These guidelines enhance the evaluation of male fecundity and pregnancy risks in clinical andrology.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Andrology
- Reproductive Medicine
- Laboratory Medicine
Background:
- Semen analysis is crucial for male infertility investigations, serving as a surrogate for male fecundity and pregnancy risk.
- Current laboratory seminology is evolving, with the World Health Organization (WHO) manual setting standards for semen analysis and quality control.
- Previous WHO editions faced critiques, highlighting the need for improved reference ranges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce the advancements in the 5th edition of the WHO manual for semen analysis.
- To detail the development of the first well-defined reference ranges for semen analysis.
- To describe methodologies for standard and specialized sperm function tests.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of semen parameters from over 1900 recent fathers to establish new reference ranges.
- Description of methodologies for assessing conventional semen variables.
- Explanation of various sperm function tests evaluating sperm's biologic capacity for fertilization.
Main Results:
- The 5th edition of the WHO manual introduces well-defined reference ranges for semen analysis.
- These new ranges are based on data from a large cohort of recent fathers (over 1900).
- The manual details methods for standard semen analysis and valuable sperm function tests.
Conclusions:
- The 5th edition of the WHO manual represents a significant advancement in male fertility evaluation.
- The established reference ranges improve the accuracy of assessing male fecundity and pregnancy risk.
- Understanding sperm function tests is essential for clinicians to interpret results and guide patient management.
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