Sperm count. Do we need a new reference value?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the sperm count in fertile men, general population, and infertile men in different regions of the world.


METHODS
Sperm counts were recorded according to their fertility status, proven fertility, men recruited from an andrology/infertility clinic, or healthy men.


RESULTS
The average of sperm count in the different studies is lower in infertile men that in fertile men (p>0.001) and in the general population (p>0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on this analysis the normal sperm count is about 65 million per mL. Using these reference value, only the 25% of the studies in infertile men are above this value, and the 75% studies with fertile men (>65 x 106 sperm/mL).
Cardona Maya
Walter
W
Grupo Reproducción, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. wdcmaya@medicina.udea.edu.co
D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013076:Sperm Count