Qualitative defects with normal sperm counts in a patient attending infertility clinic

Background: Sperm morphology is an important qualitative parameter in semen analysis. Aim: To assess qualitative defects in the semen with normal sperm counts. Setting and Design: This was a prospective and descriptive study done in a tertiary care center. Materials and Methods: Seventy-five semen samples with normal sperm counts were evaluated. Qualitative defects of sperms on Papanicolaou-stained slides were assessed. The defects were noted as follows: head (tapering head, large head, small head, round head, bifid head), middle piece (bent neck, broad middle piece, excess residual cytoplasm), and tail (coiled tail). Results: All cases showed the qualitative defects in spite of the normal counts. The defects found in head – pointed/tapering head (1%–20%), round head (1%–7%), large head (1%–3%) and others (0%–2%); in middle piece – bent neck (1%–8%), excess cytoplasm (1%–3%) or broad middle piece (1%–12%); and in tail – coiled tail (1%–5%). Conclusions: Qualitative defects are often seen even in cases with normal sperm counts.