RESUMO
In 67 patients, in most of whom the spermiogram did not, a priori, furnish definitive proof of fertility, the hamster egg human sperm penetration test was performed as part of a screening programme for infertility therapy conducted from February 1984 to February 1985. Evaluation of the test was facilitated by identification of the decondensed spermatozoon head in the penetrated hamster egg with a simple fluorescein staining instead of the usual aceto-lacmoid staining. The penetration rate (= percentage proportion of the hamster ova liberated from the zona pellucida which are penetrated within 3 hours following incubation with 1 million motile spermatozoa) was evaluated statistically in comparison to the fertility criteria of the spermiogram (motility, density, pathoforms), in order to verify the existence of possible fertility disturbances due to inability to penetrate despite the motility of the spermatozoa. In 42 patients the diagnosis of infertility was confirmed by a penetration rate of less than 10%. In 17 patients fertility was conformed according to HSPT (penetration rate of over 20%), while in 7 patients fertility was in the lower normal range. In the light of the authors' findings fertility confirmed by the HSPT is a precondition of referral for extracorporeal insemination. In the light of the authors' findings intrauterine insemination appears advisable for women whose fertility is in the lower normal range according to HSPT.
