[Importance of the spermatozoan ascension test in sterility diagnosis]

Ascension and penetration tests were applied to 60 sterile patients for assessment of spermatozoan migration. Ascension tests were positive in 16 cases and penetration tests in 22. Ten sterile women produced positive responses to either test. Pregnancy rates were high in the cases with positive ascension tests, but highest when both tests were positive. Negative test results were attributable primarily to andrological factors, pathological conditions in the cervix or to impaired tubal patency on account of adhesions.