title: Reference value of semen quality in Chinese young men.
abstract: The purpose of the study was to evaluate semen quality in young Chinese men and to establish reference values. Normal healthy young men from seven geographical areas were enrolled. The study showed that the mean sperm volume was 2.61 mL, and mean percent of sperm with forward progression was 59.89, while median of semen viability was 79.0%, and geometric mean of semen density was 55.45 x 10(6)/mL. Proportion of routine semen indexes that met World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were as follows: 81.9% for semen volume, 91.1% for liquefaction time, 93.4% for viscosity, 90.8% for pH, 81.3% for sperm with forward progression, 65.3% for sperm viability, 93.8% for semen density, 98.8% for normal sperm morphology, and 89.1% for total sperm count. Participants whose sperm met all WHO standard parameters accounted for 42.3%. Because the infertility rate in China is about 10-15%, the fifteenth percentile of semen parameters might be used as the lower limit of reference values, which may be more appropriate for young Chinese men. The fifteenth percentiles of parameters in this study were as follows: 1.5 mL for semen volume, 7.2 for pH value, 45% for proportion of sperm with forward progression, 68% for sperm viability, 30 x 10(6)/mL for semen density, 68% for proportion of sperm with normal morphology, and 50 x 10(6) for total sperm count.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, National Laboratory of Contraceptives and Devices Research, Shanghai, People's Republic of China 200032. wujq@sippr.stc.sh.cn
authors.forename: Wu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Junqing
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiuying
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jianguo
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liwei
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuxian
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yumei
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kangshou
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weiqun
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Gao
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ersheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002470:Cell Survival; D002681:China; D003710:Demography; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology*; D013046:Specific Gravity; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D014783:Viscosity