The majority of males with subnormal hypoosmotic test scores have normal vitality.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if males with low hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test scores may have normal vitality tests.


METHODS
Retrospective nine-year review of initial semen analyses evaluating vitality and HOS tests.


RESULTS
Only 12.5% (45/361) of males with low HOS test scores have low vitality.


CONCLUSIONS
WHO seems to treat vitality and HOS as equal tests. We disagree and find that structural defects of the sperm membrane are much less common than functional impairment of the sperm membrane. Since a male with an HOS test score < 50% will rarely achieve a pregnancy with intercourse, intrauterine insemination, or IVF with conventional insemination it is important to check for the HOS test not viability because the HOS test can be easily corrected with ICSI.
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Camden, NJ, USA.
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Bollendorf
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Kramer
D002470:Cell Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*