title: Sperm density measurement: should this be abandoned?
abstract: 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 less than 20 million/ml (median 84, mean 91.3, SD 60.5) and 33% of the infertile population had a sperm density greater than 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, London Hospital.
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Badenoch
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: McCloskey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013076:Sperm Count