Clinical Andrology and Semen Analysis Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key diagnostic terms, WHO reference criteria, and testing methodologies from the lecture on clinical andrology and semen analysis.

Andrology

A medical specialty that deals with male health relating specifically to problems of the male reproductive system.

WHO Laboratory Manual

The standardized guideline manual used globally for the examination, processing, quality control, and diagnostic assessment of human semen.

Normozoospermia

A classification for an ejaculate displaying normal sperm parameters, including a sperm concentration of at least $16 \times 10^6\text{ mL}^{-1}$ and a total sperm count of at least $39 \times 10^6$.

Oligozoospermia

A condition characterized by a sperm concentration below the WHO standard reference threshold of $16 \times 10^6\text{ mL}^{-1}$.

Azoospermia

The complete absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate, requiring surgical or further clinical diagnostic investigation.

Asthenozoospermia

A condition where sperm motility falls below standard reference limits, defined as having less than 30\text{\null}\null\text{\%} progressive motility or less than 42\text{\null}\null\text{\%} total motility.

Teratozoospermia

A condition where the proportion of morphologically normal spermatozoa falls below the WHO reference limit of 4\text{\null}\null\text{\%}.

Agglutination

The sticking together of motile spermatozoa to one another (head-to-head, tail-to-tail, or head-to-tail) in the absence of debris or non-sperm cells.

Aggregation

The attachment of spermatozoa to non-sperm elements, such as immature germ cells, debris, mucus, or immobile sperm.

Eosin-Nigrosin Stain

A dye-exclusion vitality stain where dead sperm with compromised membranes absorb eosin and appear pink/red, while live sperm exclude the dye and remain white.

Hypo-osmotic Swelling (HOS) Test

A functional vitality assay that places sperm in a hypo-osmotic fluid; live sperm absorb water and show tail coiling/swelling, allowing selection of viable sperm for ICSI.

Anti-sperm Antibodies (ASA)

Immunoglobulins (primarily IgA and IgG) that bind to sperm following a breach of the blood-testis barrier, causing agglutination and impairing fertilization.

Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA)

An automated computer software and imaging system used to objectively quantify sperm concentration, morphology, and kinematic motility parameters.

Retrograde Ejaculation

A condition where ejaculatory fluid is redirected backward into the bladder instead of moving forward through the urethra, often yielding low volume or clear ejaculate.