THE INFLUENCE OF SEMEN ANALYSIS PARAMETERS ON THE FERTILITY POTENTIALOF INFERTILE COUPLES

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship betwee n couples' fertility potential and several parameters of semen analysi s (from a single semen sample/male partner) in a cohort of 1,055 infer tile couples seen at the Texas Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Endocrinology for a total of 9,409 follow-up months. The medians of s perm concentrations (SC), total sperm counts (TSC), percent; motility (MOT), motile sperm concentrations (MSC), and total motile sperm count s (TMSC) were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in the group that achi eved pregnancy. When the entire group was divided into ''high'' and '' low'' groups on the basis of the various parameters of semen analysis, the relative risk ratios for conception for the ''high'' groups were as follows: SC, 1.5, MOT, 8.5; TSC, 8.1; MSG, 5.8; and TMSC, 6.1. Life table analysis showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.0 001) in the initial rise and overall slope of the conception rates bet ween the two groups for a number of the semen analysis parameters (TSC , MOT, MSG, and TMSC). This study showed that certain semen analysis p arameters are positively correlated, with a high degree of statistical probability, with the time required or the occurrence oi conception, The quantitative impact of the male fertility potential on conception rates was shown to correlate not solely with the SC or MOT values, but even more: so with their derivatives (i.e., MSC and TMSC). Therefore, in an in vivo environment it is not only the number of sperm and thei r motility but also their derivatives that provide a quantitative insi ght into the male fertility potential. The data may provide a quantita tive expression oi the relative risk ratio for conception to occur and the time required until conception is achieved. Further studies will be necessary to clarify the effect of;he other semen analysis paramete rs (i.e., morphology, velocity, linearity, and ''efficient'' MSC) on c onception rates, cumulative conception rates, relative risk ratio for conception, and time until conception in a large population of inferti le couples.