RESULTS OF A QUESTIONNAIRE ON SPERM MORPHOLOGY ASSESSMENT

This survey describes the results of a questionnaire on the methodolog y of sperm morphology assessment. A questionnaire form was sent to 410 fertility centres. A total of 170 answer forms (41.5%) from 40 differ ent countries was evaluated. Most responding centres (147 or 86.5%) tr eat more than 200 new couples per year, According to our results, a wi de and complex variation in different methods of sperm preparation, st aining procedures and classification systems is observed world wide. W HO recommendations for sperm preparation seem to be poorly followed. O nly 86 centres (50.6%) reported the use of a single approach to both s emen preparation and sperm morphology evaluation. Our results indicate an urgent need for standardization and consensus on sperm morphology methodology to regain the power of this important sperm parameter.