title: Sperm motility, velocity and migration.
abstract: Four different methods for evaluating sperm motility were analysed for experimental error: subjective assessment of a wet film preparation, sperm velocity measured by time-lapse photography, sperm velocity measured by computer analysis and sperm migration across a nucleopore membrane. Subjective assessment of motility was found to be inaccurate, within single observer and between 2 observers. Both methods of measuring mean sperm velocity were accurate, particularly that using the computer analysis system; a high technical failure rate was found using time-lapse photography. Sperm migration across a nucleopore membrane was found to be highly inaccurate. Two groups were then analysed for the predictive value of these tests (excluding sperm migration): 104 proven fertile men and 53 infertile men. Although subjective motility was able to predict from which group the sample came at optimum cut-off with 78% accuracy, computer analysed sperm velocity could predict with overall 91% accuracy at optimum cut-off. Computer analysis of sperm velocity offers a rapid, objective and predictive assessment of sperm function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, London Hospital.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Badenoch
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: W V
authors.initials: WV
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Sidhu
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D010781:Photography; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013081:Sperm Motility; D014743:Videotape Recording