Table 1.
WHO semen parameter reference values
| Semen parameters | 4th edition [5]a | 5th edition [6]b |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | ≥2 mL | ≥1.5 mL |
| Sperm concentration | ≥20 M/mL | ≥15 M/mL |
| Total sperm count | ≥40 M | ≥39 M |
| Motility | ≥50% progressive (a+b); ≥25% a only | ≥40% total motility; ≥28% progressive (a+b) motility |
| Morphology | ≥15% by strict criteria | ≥4% by strict criteria |
| Vitality | ≥75% | ≥58% sperm viable |
| WBC | <1 M/mL | <1 M/mL |
WHO World Health Organization
a
Limits of adequacy and determined by consensus
b
Well-defined reference ranges derived under strict statistical analysis