A computerized sperm motion analysis [published erraturm appears in Fertil Steril 1986 Nov;46(5):980]

Semen samples from 35 fertile men and husbands of 32 infertile couples were evaluated with the use of a rapid computerized sperm motion analysis (CSA). The counts and percentages of motile sperm measured by routine semen analysis (RSA) and CSA were comparable in both groups. In CSA, mean values of swimming speed (microns per second), linearity, and motility index of sperm in the fertile men were significantly higher than those in the infertile group. At 3 hours, the number of sperm moving at a speed of 21 to 30 microns/second were higher in the infertile group than in the fertile group. In contrast, the number of sperm moving at a speed of 31 to 50 microns/second and higher was increased in the fertile group over the infertile group. Good correlations were obtained between RSA and CSA sperm counts and percentages of progressively motile sperm. Sperm counts, percent motility, indices of motility, and mean sperm speed obtained by two observers with the use of CSA correlated well. It seems that the sperm speed and the motility index remain unaltered in repeat semen analyses of fertile men. It is concluded that a computerized analysis of sperm swimming speed is a reliable and rapid mode for evaluating semen samples and offers more discriminatory sperm motion characteristics than the RSA.