ABSTRACT

Infertility is defined as the time of one year of unprotected intercourse without conception and affects approximately 15% of the couples. Data available over the years reveal that pathology is found among 55% of cases in women, 35% of cases in men and the remaining 10% of cases are defined as unexplained infertility. Male infertility is commonly due to deficiencies in the semen, and semen quality is used as a surrogate measure of male fecundity. A semen analysis evaluates certain characteristics of a male's semen and the sperm contained in the semen. It should be the first laboratory investigation for men while evaluating a couple's infertility. Here, we tried to review the semen analysis as a very important laboratory investigation in evaluating the infertile couples with all points in the light of last published World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.