Semen analysis abnormalities

Sometimes male factor infertility is identified by their Greek descriptors (Grimes et al. 2007) and relates to the WHO’s reference values for semen analysis. Here’s a list of these descriptors and their meaning:

Normozoospermia: Normal ejaculate and semen parameters

Aspermia: No ejaculate

Cryptozoospermia: Very few sperm in ejaculate (only seen after concentrating)

AzoospermiaNo sperm in the ejaculate

Oligozoospermia: Sperm concentration < 15 million/ml

Asthenozoospermia: Sperm motility < 40%

Teratozoospermia: Normal morphology < 4%

Oligoasthenozoospermia:

  • Sperm concentration < 15 million/ml
  • Sperm motility < 40%

Oligoteratozoospermia:

  • Sperm concentration < 15 million/ml
  • Normal morphology < 4%

Asthenoteratozoospermia:

  • Sperm motility < 40%
  • Normal morphology < 4%

Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia:

  • Sperm concentration < 15 million/ml
  • Sperm motility < 40%
  • Normal morphology < 4%