Sperm motility assessment by videomicrography.

A technically simple, inexpensive method is described for measuring objective parameters of sperm motility. The instruments involved are commercially available, home-oriented videotape equipment. Quantitative measurements of sperm motility are made directly from the video image and are facilitated by use of an analysis transparency that is applied as an overlay to the screen of the television monitor. A protocol is given for describing the motility of a suspension of human spermatozoa in terms of percentage motility, mean swimming speed, and the percentage of progressive sperm. A complete analysis can be done in 20 minutes or less. Examples are presented of videomicrographic assessment of the motility of human and bull spermatozoa.