Volume 13, Issue 2 (March 2011) 13, 208–211; 10.1038/aja.2010.156
New WHO-reference limits—revolution or storm in a teapot?
Gerhard Haidl
Department of Dermatology/Andrology Unit, University of Bonn, Bonn 53127, Germany
Correspondence: Dr G Haidl, (gerhard.haidl@ukb.uni-bonn.de)
Advance online publication 1 March 2011
Abstract |
Since release of the latest WHO manual with the new lower reference values of semen parameters, a lot of discussion has been raised about their usefulness and appropriateness for assessment of male fertility. As with the previous reference values the new limits do neither allow an andrological diagnosis based on nosological criteria nor clear-cut differentiation between fertility and sub-/infertility. Therefore, considering the fact that fertility is a continuum, the new lower reference limits should not be overestimated. Most probably, more sperm function tests, such as determination of DNA integrity, and—in the future—assessment of biomarkers, such as sperm proteomics will be included into andrological work-up, thus resulting in a more personalized approach of infertility management. On the other hand, the detailed instructions for standard and advanced semen analysis provided in the new manual are very much appreciated and should be adopted by each seriously working laboratory.
Keywords: individualized medicine; male fertility; new WHO manual; semen analysis; sperm function tests; sperm proteomics
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