Relationship between the sperm penetration assay and other tests of sperm function.

Semen from 88 men of infertile couples and 33 fertile donors differed in seminal fluid analysis (sperm density and motility) (SFA) as well as in the penetration of hamster ova (SPA) and bovine cervical mucus (MPT). In the fertile group, significantly more subjects had adequate SFA, SPA, or MPT results than in the infertile group. When the two groups were subdivided into those with normal or those with abnormal SFA, no differences were noted in SPA, MPT, or postcoital test (PCT) scores.

Physiological integrity of human sperm in the presence of Ureaplasma urealyticum.

Several species of Mycoplasma have been isolated from the human genital tract, the most common being M. hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum. A causal relationship between such infections and sperm dysfunction and infertility has yet to be established.