Hammen semen quality classification and pregnancies obtained during a twenty-year follow-up period

The Hammen semen quality classification system is a fertility index with six qualities based on sperm count, assessment of sperm motility, number of immotile spermatozoa, number of abnormal sperm heads, and sperm viability. It was developed by Hammen during the 1940s. In the present study, the fertility of 1077 men classified during the years 1950 to 1952 was assessed after 20 years. There were significant correlations between those obtaining living children (P less than 0.01) and those with good semen quality, and between number of children obtained (P less than 0.001) and good semen quality. Moreover, the time interval between attempts to impregnate and obtainment of pregnancy was correlated (P less than 0.01). It is concluded that the Hammen semen classification system is suitable for assessing male clinical fertility.