BACKGROUND: Sperm morphology is an important qualitative parameter in semen analysis. AIM: To assess qualitative defects in the semen with normal sperm counts. Setting and Design: This was a prospective and descriptive study done in a tertiary care center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five semen samples with normal sperm counts were evaluated. Qualitative defects of sperms on Papanicolaou-stained slides were assessed. The defects were noted as follows: head (tapering head, large head, small head, round head, bifid head), middle piece (bent neck, broad middle piece, excess residual cytoplasm), and tail (coiled tail). RESULTS: All cases showed the qualitative defects in spite of the normal counts. The defects found in head - pointed/tapering head (1%-20%), round head (1%-7%), large head (1%-3%) and others (0%-2%); in middle piece - bent neck (1%-8%), excess cytoplasm (1%-3%) or broad middle piece (1%-12%); and in tail - coiled tail (1%-5%). CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative defects are often seen even in cases with normal sperm counts.
BACKGROUND: Sperm morphology is an important qualitative parameter in semen analysis. AIM: To assess qualitative defects in the semen with normal sperm counts. Setting and Design: This was a prospective and descriptive study done in a tertiary care center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five semen samples with normal sperm counts were evaluated. Qualitative defects of sperms on Papanicolaou-stained slides were assessed. The defects were noted as follows: head (tapering head, large head, small head, round head, bifid head), middle piece (bent neck, broad middle piece, excess residual cytoplasm), and tail (coiled tail). RESULTS: All cases showed the qualitative defects in spite of the normal counts. The defects found in head - pointed/tapering head (1%-20%), round head (1%-7%), large head (1%-3%) and others (0%-2%); in middle piece - bent neck (1%-8%), excess cytoplasm (1%-3%) or broad middle piece (1%-12%); and in tail - coiled tail (1%-5%). CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative defects are often seen even in cases with normal sperm counts.
Authors: Matthew R Cring; Kacie J Meyer; Charles C Searby; Adam Hedberg-Buenz; Michael Cave; Michael G Anderson; Kai Wang; Val C Sheffield Journal: Gene Ther Date: 2021-03-04 Impact factor: 4.184