Post-coital test in subfertile men.

Abstract

Twenty-two patients with border-line spermiograms (moderate oligoasthenozoospermia or asthenozoospermia) were studied by the post-coital test (PCT) to determinate the behaviour in vivo of semen with modest dysspermia (spermatozoa counts between 10 and 20 million/ml, with 20-40% forward motility). All the female partners were normal morphologically and functionally. The PCT were always carried out when the cervical mucus was favorable (mean score 12.2-12.3) and the endocervical pH was 7.25-7.30. The positive results for the asthenozoospermic semen samples were 6.75% and for the oligozoospermic one 10%, when the classification were based on the W.H.O. criteria. When the semen samples were classified according to Kremer's criteria positive results were found in 37.5% and 40% of the cases respectively. The effects of both cervical mucus properties and pH on the results of the PCT were found to be important. The high percentage of the favorable results emphasizes the usefulness of completing studies of border-line spermiograms with an in vivo test, since it is difficult to define normality and predict the fertility potential from semen examination alone.