[The information contained in a semen analysis].
BACKGROUND
Semen analysis is an important part of the infertility investigation, but its usefulness as a predictor of fertility is under debate.


METHODS
The article is based on the authors' experience from andrology laboratories and participation in the WHO's editorial committee for standardization of semen analysis and literature retrieved through non-systematic searches of Medline and PubMed.


CONCLUSIONS
There is currently no simple and reliable method to predict the fertility of a man. Most laboratories still use semen analyses that are based on methodology introduced in the 1950s. To allow meaningful comparison of results with previous investigations, results from other laboratories or with reference intervals, it is essential that the methods are standardized and evidence-based. Several studies have shown a correlation between semen variables such as sperm concentration, progressive motility and sperm morphology, and time to pregnancy. The results of semen analysis are often difficult to interpret without patient history and other investigations and do not provide a diagnosis by themselves; they must therefore be interpreted in conjunction with other medical investigations of the couple.
Björndahl
Lars
L
Centrum för Andrologi och Sexualmedicin, Kliniken för Endokrinologi, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Huddinge.
Haugen
Trine B
TB
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology