Morphology of live seminal and postcoital cervical spermatozoa and its bearing on human fertility.

Various seminal variables were studied in two groups of infertile couples and in one fertile control group. Sperm morphology was emphasized. Patients with normal postcoital tests and sperm counts exceeding 5 mill/ml were selected and followed prospectively. The two clinical groups could then be identified: a. couples who were persistently infertile during the 3 years of observation and whose infertility was not explained by the clinical investigation, and; b. couples where conception was achieved during the period of observation, either spontaneously or after treatment of the woman. In the latter group all the variables of semen analysis were identical with those of the control group. Differences between the two groups of infertile patients were noted only with respect to the morphology of live spermatozoa of the semen sample and of postcoital spermatozoa within the cervical secretion. It is concluded that these two variables of sperm evaluation are of prognostic significance with regard to future fertility.