Laboratory diagnosis in andrology

Evaluation of male fertility traditionally has relied on analysis of spermatozoa and seminal plasma. Technology has consisted almost exclusively of subjective motility assessment and morphology of stained sperm-cell preparations. Evaluation of seminal plasma components, particularly anti-sperm antibodies, was based on functional properties of sperm immobilization and agglutination. In the last few years, objective measurements of sperm motility have become available, and new methods for immunological evaluation have been applied to andrology laboratory evaluations. This review discusses methods of laboratory diagnosis of male infertility, including many of these new technologies.