WHO 5th edition recommends reporting these categories of movement:
- Progressive motility: Spermatozoa are moving actively (not necessarily rapidly), either linearly or in a large circle. Several examples of progressive motility can be seen in the attached video.
- Non-progressive motility: There is an absence of progression, e.g., swimming in small circles; the head is barely moving as the result of the flagellar movements; only the flagellar movement is noted. An example of non-progressive motility can be viewed on the following page.
- Immotility: Total absence of movement
Complete the assessment of progressive motility in the area of observation, followed by non-progressive motility, and finally immotility.
The lower reference limit for progressive motility is 32%. The lower reference limit for total motility (progressive + non-progressive) is 40 %.
This video and the video on the following page are used with the permission of Kokopelli Technologies, LLC.
