Sperm vitality and necrozoospermia: diagnosis, management, and results of a global survey of clinical practice
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Sperm vitality testing is a basic semen examination that has been described in the World Health Organization (WHO) Laboratory Manual for the Examination and Processing of Human Semen from its primary edition, 40 years ago. Several methods can be used to test sperm vitality, such as the eosin-nigrosin (E-N) stain or the hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test. In the 6th (2021) edition of the WHO Laboratory Manual, sperm vitality assessment is mainly recommended if the total motility is less than 40%. Hence, a motile spermatozoon is considered alive, however, in certain conditions an immotile spermatozoon can also be alive. Therefore, the differentiation between asthenozoospermia (pathological decrease in sperm motility) and necrozoospermia (pathological decrease in sperm vitality) is important in directing further investigation and management of infertile patients. The causes leading to necrozoospermia are diverse and can either be local or general, testicular or extra-testicular. The andrological management of necrozoospermia depends on its etiology. However, there is no standardized treatment available presently and practice varies among clinicians. In this study, we report the results of a global survey to understand current practices regarding the physician order of sperm vitality tests as well as the management practices for necrozoospermia. Laboratory and clinical scenarios are presented to guide the reader in the management of necrozoospermia with the overall objective of establishing a benchmark ranging from the diagnosis of necrozoospermia by sperm vitality testing to its clinical management.
Date Issued
2021-10-13
Date Acceptance
2021-08-05
Citation
World Journal of Mens Health, 2021, 40 (2), pp.228-242
ISSN
2287-4208
Publisher
Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology
Start Page
228
End Page
242
Journal / Book Title
World Journal of Mens Health
Volume
40
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
© 2022 Korean Society for Sexual Medicine and Andrology. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0)
which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Identifier
https://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000708447100001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Andrology
Health Care Sciences & Services
Urology & Nephrology
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Asthenozoospermia
EosineYellowish-(YS)
Infertility
Nigrosin
Spermatozoa
Vitality
HYPOOSMOTIC SWELLING TEST
MALE-INFERTILITY
TESTICULAR SPERMATOZOA
SEMINAL PLASMA
SEMEN QUALITY
DNA-DAMAGE
IMMOTILE
ICSI
PARAMETERS
VIABILITY
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-10-13