title: In search for the general population's semen profile: the study of sperm parameters in partners of women with chronic anovulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human fertility is linked to sperm quality and therefore the establishment of reference values for normality is mandatory.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The first aim was to establish a reference profile of men in the general population by examining the semen of partners of women with chronic anovulation. The second aim was to determine the prevalence of sperm abnormalities in this patient group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm samples of 304 partners of patients with chronic anovulation were analysed prospectively. Semen samples were examined according to WHO guidelines, for sperm morphology Tygerberg strict criteria were used. We compared the results of this study with the cut-off values for normality we obtained in a previous study performed in our centre.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean value was 3.1 ml for volume, 64.7 mill / ml for concentration, 51.9% for progressive motility (grade a + b motility) and 7.4% for sperm morphology. Single parameter and double parameter abnormalities were observed in 42.7% and 8.2% of cases respectively. A normal sperm sample for all three parameters was noted in 46% of cases. Oligo-Astheno-Teratozoospermia was present in 3.0% of cases while azoospermia was found in two patients (0.7%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We believe that the study of sperm parameters in partners of patients with chronic anovulation can be used to study the prevalence of sperm abnormalities in the general population. Our data show that semen abnormalities are not uncommon in partners of women with chronic anovulation, highlighting the importance of a semen examination in every infertility work-up, even in case of obvious female pathology.
authors.affiliation: Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ZOL, Campus St Jan, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ombelet
authors.affiliation: Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ZOL, Campus St Jan, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.affiliation: Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ZOL, Campus St Jan, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ZOL, Campus St Jan, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.affiliation: Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ZOL, Campus St Jan, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mestdagh
authors.affiliation: Genk Institute for Fertility Technology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ZOL, Campus St Jan, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600 Genk, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nijs
keywords: Chronic anovulation; general population; human; semen analysis; sperm morphology