Prognostic value of the sperm-penetration-meter test according to Kremer

An eighteen month follow up of 84 couples with unexplained infertility was analysed to determine the significance of the sperm-penetration-meter test (SPM-test). Pregnancy occurred independently of treatment in 16 couples (19%). The fertile and infertile group displayed no difference in the classical semen parameters such as volume, density and morphology. Only motility was slightly depressed in the infertile collective. The penetration quality was assessed at 2,4 and 24 hours incubation time according to Kremer (1980). Of all parameters only the two- and four hour values showed a significant, although poor correlation with the pregnancy rate (r = 0.32; p less than 0.01). Furthermore, the fertile group achieved twofold more positive results after two and four hours incubation (75% and 69%) than the group with persistent infertility (34% and 31%). In both collectives more than 90% of the 24 hour values were negative and thus insignificant. From all conventional semen parameters motility had the greatest prognostic point of view the results of the SPM-test bear the greatest significance during the first four hours.