Semen parameter prediction of pregnancy.

Overview

A semen analysis (SA) is an integral component of the evaluation and management of infertile men. While it is important for patient counseling and clinical decision making, a conventional SA cannot reliably predict the chance of pregnancy or differentiate fertile versus infertile men (except in the most extreme cases). Advanced, non-standard sperm functional tests may provide additional discriminatory and prognostic power; however, further research is needed to determine how to best incorporate these tests into modern clinical practice. Overall, the primary applications for a conventional semen analysis should be: to judge the severity of infertility, to estimate the likely responsiveness to future therapy, and to determine the response to current therapy (1).