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Journal ArticleDOI

Relation between sperm count and semen volume, and pregnancies obtained during a twenty‐year follow‐up period

01 Jun 1982-International Journal of Andrology (Int J Androl)-Vol. 5, Iss: 3, pp 267-275
TL;DR: Sperm count is concluded to be proper for fertility classification, and sperm count 5 mill/ml is found to be the clinically significant borderline of male infertility.
Abstract: The clinical fertility of 1077 men investigated with sperm analysis including sperm count and semen volume during the years 1950-52 was studied 20 years later using a questionnaire, replied by 785 (72.9%). There was a significant correlation (P less than 0.01) between sperm count and number of living children, but no relation to abortions and pathological pregnancies. Furthermore, sperm count was correlated (P less than 0.01) to time interval from wish of pregnancy to pregnancy obtained. Of 53 men with sperm count less than or equal to 5 mill/ml 22.6% obtained living children compared with 52.2-63.1% living children in 730 men with sperm count greater than 5 mill/ml. Sperm count is concluded to be proper for fertility classification, and sperm count 5 mill/ml is found to be the clinically significant borderline of male infertility. There was no relation between semen volume and pregnancies obtained, however, there was a statistical relation (P less than 0.01) to time interval to pregnancy obtained. Semen volume is concluded not to be suited for fertility classification.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
12 Sep 1992-BMJ
TL;DR: There has been a genuine decline in semen quality over the past 50 years, and as male fertility is to some extent correlated with sperm count the results may reflect an overall reduction in male fertility.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE--To investigate whether semen quality has changed during the past 50 years. DESIGN--Review of publications on semen quality in men without a history of infertility selected by means of Cumulated Index Medicus and Current List (1930-1965) and MEDLINE Silver Platter database (1966-August 1991). SUBJECTS--14,947 men included in a total of 61 papers published between 1938 and 1991. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Mean sperm density and mean seminal volume. RESULTS--Linear regression of data weighted by number of men in each study showed a significant decrease in mean sperm count from 113 x 10(6)/ml in 1940 to 66 x 10(6)/ml in 1990 (p < 0.0001) and in seminal volume from 3.40 ml to 2.75 ml (p = 0.027), indicating an even more pronounced decrease in sperm production than expressed by the decline in sperm density. CONCLUSIONS--There has been a genuine decline in semen quality over the past 50 years. As male fertility is to some extent correlated with sperm count the results may reflect an overall reduction in male fertility. The biological significance of these changes is emphasised by a concomitant increase in the incidence of genitourinary abnormalities such as testicular cancer and possibly also cryptorchidism and hypospadias, suggesting a growing impact of factors with serious effects on male gonadal function.

2,481 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The study suggests that the current WHO guidelines for normal semen quality should be used with caution, as some men with sperm counts above the lower limit of the normal range defined by WHO may in fact be subfertile.

703 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: High or low BMI was associated with reduced semen quality, and it remains to be seen whether the increasing occurrence of obesity in the Western world may contribute to an epidemic of poor semen quality registered in some of the same countries.

702 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Although some interesting results, mainly in humans, have already been obtained, many questions remain, which have to be answered to allow for further development of this technology in veterinary medicine, clinical fertility settings, physiological and toxicology research activities.

655 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The remarkable increase in frequency of testicular abnormalities over a relatively short period of time may be due to environmental rather than genetic factors.
Abstract: Recent reports have suggested that the incidence of genitourinary abnormalities in human males has increased during the past 50 years, including congenital abnormalities such as cryptorchidism and ...

342 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The data demonstrate a lack of direct correlation between sperm density in the ranges of 5 to 60 million/ml and pregnancy rates in couples where the wife is treated intensively, and emphasize the importance of considering infertility as a problem of a couple rather than as a specific disorder of one of the partners.

170 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A positive relationship was found between sperm density and percentage of motile sperm; the relationship between motility and the logarithm of sperm density was represented by a straight line; the slope of the line was highly significant, although the correlation coefficient was weak.

165 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that, unless other parameters are found to be abnormal, sperm counts and total sperm counts above 10 million/ml and 25 million/ejaculate, respectively, probably are not major factors in a couple's infertility.

155 citations

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Sperm count is concluded to be proper for fertility classification, and sperm count 5 mill/ml is found to be the clinically significant borderline of male infertility.