PURPOSE: To determine if sperm motility and hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test scores are associated.
Furthermore the study would determine if the chance of having a subnormal HOS test increases as motility levels decrease. Finally the study would determine if age, motility, and HOS test scores are independent factors or if they interact.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of males of all ages with a normal sperm concentration of > 20 x 106/ml is presented. Males were evaluated separately according to age (< 40 vs > or = 40 years) for percent progressive motility and HOS test scores. The percent motility was assessed according to percentage in deciles.
RESULTS: A significantly higher percentage of males with low motility have low (< 50%) HOS test scores irrespective of age. The odds ratio of males < 40 years having an abnormal HOS test score is 6.73 times higher and is 8.23 times higher for males > or = 40 years. As age increases, there is a significantly larger proportion of males with abnormal HOS test scores (6% to 13%).
CONCLUSIONS: Factors that cause an abnormality in the functional integrity of the sperm membrane, as evidenced by a low HOS test score, can also have a negative effect on motility.
Written by:
Tubman A, Check JH, Bollendorf A, Wilson C. Are you the author?
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Camden, NJ, USA.
Reference: Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2013;40(1):35-6.
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23724502
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