This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mortimer, D. Articles by Sawers, R. S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Mortimer, D. Articles by Sawers, R. S.

Relationship between human sperm motility characteristics and sperm penetration into human cervical mucus in vitro

Summary. A series of 100 modified Kremer tests of human sperm penetration into human cervical mucus was carried out as part of the routine investigation of couples presenting with infertility. The outcome of these tests was significantly correlated with the concentration and progressive motility of the spermatozoa in the semen sample used for the test. Other semen characteristics significantly correlated with the test result were the mean velocity of progression (VP) and the amplitude of lateral head displacement about the axis of progression (AH) of the progressive spermatozoa. Normal sperm morphology was also correlated with the outcome. Using these semen characteristics as the independent variables to predict the test outcome in a discriminant analysis (normal vs abnormal tests), 34·2% of the variance was accounted for. From the discriminant function equation 75·0% of the test results could be predicted correctly.

In the 30 cases in which the semen samples used for the tests showed 25 x 10⁶ progressively motile spermatozoa per ml, mean VP of 25 µm/sec and mean AH of 7·5 µm, 83·3% had normal test results. Conversely, all 13 cases for which the semen characteristics were below these limits had abnormal test results.

Therefore, both the concentration of progressively motile spermatozoa and their movement characteristics are significant factors determining the outcome of homologous tests of human sperm–cervical mucus interaction.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. L. Tollner, A. I. Yudin, C. A. Treece, J. W. Overstreet, and G. N. Cherr Macaque sperm coating protein DEFB126 facilitates sperm penetration of cervical mucus Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2008; 23(11): 2523 - 2534. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Sergerie, G. Laforest, L. Bujan, F. Bissonnette, and G. Bleau Sperm DNA fragmentation: threshold value in male fertility Hum. Reprod., December 1, 2005; 20(12): 3446 - 3451. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. T Mortimer and W M C. Maxwell Effect of medium on the kinematics of frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa Reproduction, February 1, 2004; 127(2): 285 - 291. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Ola, M. Afnan, S. Papaioannou, K. Sharif, L. Bjorndahl, and A. Coomarasamy Accuracy of sperm-cervical mucus penetration tests in evaluating sperm motility in semen: a systematic quantitative review Hum. Reprod., May 1, 2003; 18(5): 1037 - 1046. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Barroso, M. Morshedi, and S. Oehninger Analysis of DNA fragmentation, plasma membrane translocation of phosphatidylserine and oxidative stress in human spermatozoa Hum. Reprod., June 1, 2000; 15(6): 1338 - 1344. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]