Penetration and Fertilization Tests In Vivo and In Vitro

Abstract

“The only test of fertility is pregnancy.” This pithy statement by Eliasson (1971) highlights the dilemma in which we fid ourselves when we resort to laboratory tests which are intended to assess a man’s fertihty. On the other hand, history-taking can estabhsh whether the patient was fertile in the past and provide a basis for our subsequent prognosis. Aitken (1983) states: “It is an unfortunate fact that the techniques currently employed by andrologists for diagnosing male fertihty are so insensitive that the conditions they describe are generally untreatable. There is therefore an urgent need to develop more sensitive diagnostic techniques capable of identifying subfertile states which are amenable to the few therapeutic options open to us.” This statement by Aitken is an appear to complement the classical analytical methods of spermatology with dynamic biological test methods.