Editorial commentary on draft of world health organization sixth edition laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen

Semen examination is the cornerstone of the evaluation of male fertility potential. Despite its apparent simplicity, it is a complex series of assessments with highly variable results that are subject to interpretation. The semen analysis is used to gauge reproductive potential and guide the clinician in management of the infertile couple. Over the past 40 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) Infertility Task Force has attempted to standardize the methodology of semen examination so as to bring uniformity and relevance to the test