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Sperm Density Measurement: Should this be Abandoned?
Author(s) -
BADENOCH D. F.,
EVANS S. J. W.,
McCLOSKEY D. J.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.1989.tb05291.x
Subject(s) - sperm , semen , fertility , infertility , male infertility , population , male fertility , gynecology , semen analysis , medicine , andrology , biology , pregnancy , environmental health , genetics
Summary— Sperm density measurement by means of the Makler chamber was performed on a single semen specimen from 2 groups: 104 proven fertile men and 53 infertile men; 11.5% of the fertile population had a sperm density < 20 million/ml (median 84, mean 91.3, SD 60.5) and 33% of the infertile population had a sperm density > 20 million/ml (median 10, mean 26.9, SD 34.8). There was a statistically significant difference in median between the 2 groups, but when a discriminant analysis was applied, sperm density could predict fertile status with only 68% accuracy at optimum cut‐off. Sperm density is valueless in distinguishing fertile from infertile men and is neither useful in diagnosis nor in monitoring the progress of treatment for male infertility. It should be abandoned as a quotable measurement of male fertility.