Semen quality and age-specific changes: a study between two decades on 3,729 male partners of couples with normal sperm count and attending an andrology laboratory for infertility-related problems in an Indian city.
TL;DR: A significant decline was seen in sperm motility parameters and seminal volume in the present decade and the age-related changes in semen parameters are also different in the two decades.
About: This article is published in Fertility and Sterility.The article was published on 2010-05-01. It has received 68 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Semen quality & Semen analysis.
Citations
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TL;DR: The present literature will help in knowing the trends of male factor infertility in developing nations like India and to find out in future, various factors that may be responsible for male infertility.
Abstract: Infertility and problems of impaired fecundity have been a concern through ages and is also a significant clinical problem today, which affects 8-12% of couples worldwide. Of all infertility cases, approximately 40-50% is due to "male factor" infertility and as many as 2% of all men will exhibit suboptimal sperm parameters. It may be one or a combination of low sperm concentration, poor sperm motility, or abnormal morphology. The rates of infertility in less industrialized nations are markedly higher and infectious diseases are responsible for a greater proportion of infertility. The present literature will help in knowing the trends of male factor infertility in developing nations like India and to find out in future, various factors that may be responsible for male infertility.
656 citations
TL;DR: An exhaustive literature review has demonstrated negative effects on sperm quality and testicular functions with increasing paternal age, and the need to educate infertile couples on the disturbing links between increased paternal age and rising disorders in their offspring.
Abstract: Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in average paternal age when the first child is conceived, either due to increased life expectancy, widespread use of contraception, late marriages and other factors. While the effect of maternal ageing on fertilization and reproduction is well known and several studies have shown that women over 35 years have a higher risk of infertility, pregnancy complications, spontaneous abortion, congenital anomalies, and perinatal complications. The effect of paternal age on semen quality and reproductive function is controversial for several reasons. First, there is no universal definition for advanced paternal ageing. Secondly, the literature is full of studies with conflicting results, especially for the most common parameters tested. Advancing paternal age also has been associated with increased risk of genetic disease. Our exhaustive literature review has demonstrated negative effects on sperm quality and testicular functions with increasing paternal age. Epigenetics changes, DNA mutations along with chromosomal aneuploidies have been associated with increasing paternal age. In addition to increased risk of male infertility, paternal age has also been demonstrated to impact reproductive and fertility outcomes including a decrease in IVF/ICSI success rate and increasing rate of preterm birth. Increasing paternal age has shown to increase the incidence of different types of disorders like autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and childhood leukemia in the progeny. It is thereby essential to educate the infertile couples on the disturbing links between increased paternal age and rising disorders in their offspring, to better counsel them during their reproductive years.
265 citations
Additional excerpts
...Similarly, in a large prospective study comprising of 3,729 male partners evaluated for semen quality and age-specific changes, a significant decrease was reported in sperm volume and motility with increasing paternal age [42]....
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TL;DR: It is suggested that greater focus on collection of DNA fragmentation and progressive motility in a clinical setting may lead to better patient outcomes during fertility treatments of aging couples, even though sperm concentration did not decline with increasing male age.
257 citations
TL;DR: This is the first study concluding a severe and general decrease in sperm concentration and morphology at the scale of a whole country over a substantial period and the results were robust after sensitivity analysis.
Abstract: study question: Are temporal trends and values of semen quality parameters in France identifiable in partners of totally infertile women? summary answer: Among a sample of 26 609 partners of totally infertile women undergoing an assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures in the whole of France over a 17-year period, there was a continuous decrease in semen concentration of about 1.9% per year and a significant decrease in the percentage with morphologically normal forms but no global trend for motility. what is known already: A global decrease in human sperm quality is still debated as geographical differences have been shown, and many criticisms have risen concerning studies with small and biased study populations or inappropriate statistical methodology. However, growing biological, toxicological, experimental and human exposure data support the endocrine disruptors’ hypothesis assuming that fetal exposure to endocrine disruptors could impair reproductive outcomes. study design, size, duration: This was a retrospective and descriptive study using data registered by Fivnat, the professional association in charge of statistics for ART in France during the 1989– 2005 study period. Data were provided by 126 main ART centres over the whole metropolitan territory. The source population included 154 712 men, aged 18– 70, who were partners of couples undergoing their first ART cycle and for whom semen quality indicators (concentration, total motility and percentage of morphologically normal forms), measured on fresh ejaculated semen, were available. participants/materials, setting, methods: The study population was 26 609 partners of women who had both tubes either absent or blocked. The temporal trends for each indicator of semen quality were modelled using a generalized additive model that allowed for nonlinear relationships between variables and were adjusted for season and age. In-depth sensitivity analyses included the reiteration of the analysis on data from a second spermiogram available for each man and on another subsample of men diagnosed as fertile. Variables such as centre, technique (standard in vitro fertilization or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection) and an interaction factor between technique and time were also included in the model. main results and the role of chance: There was a significant and continuous decrease in sperm concentration of 32.2% [26.3– 36.3] during the study period. Projections indicate that concentration for a 35-year-old man went from an average of 73.6 million/ml [69.0– 78.4] in 1989 to 49.9 million/ml [43.5– 54.7] in 2005. A significant, but not quantifiable, decrease in the percentage of sperm with morphologically normal forms along the 17-year period was also observed. There was no global trend but a slight, significant increase in total motility between 1994 and 1998 was observed. The results were robust after sensitivity analysis. limitations, reasons for caution: Socioeconomic status could not be controlled for. Despite universal access to medical services in France, couples undergoing ART are expected to have a higher educational level on average compared with those of the general population. Therefore, the real values in the general population could be slightly lower than those presented and the decrease possibly stronger, as the population study is less likely to smoke or be overweight, two factors known to impair semen quality.
246 citations
Cites background from "Semen quality and age-specific chan..."
...Finally, by not selecting a sample of men with concentration greater than a minimum threshold (Zorn et al., 1999; Sripada et al., 2007; Mukhopadhyay et al., 2010), we were not subject to bias created by truncating the concentration probability density....
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...Finally, by not selecting a sample of men with concentration greater than a minimum threshold (Zorn et al., 1999; Sripada et al., 2007; Mukhopadhyay et al., 2010), we were not subject to bias created by truncating the concentration probability density....
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...…1999; Seo et al., 2000; Lackner et al., 2005; Sripada et al., 2007; Fisch, 2008; Feki et al., 2009), some observe a decrease (Auger et al., 1995; Zorn et al., 1999; Almagor et al., 2003; Mukhopadhyay et al., 2010) and a few observe an increase (Andolz et al., 1999; Chen et al., 2003) in motility....
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..., 2009), some observe a decrease (Auger et al., 1995; Zorn et al., 1999; Almagor et al., 2003; Mukhopadhyay et al., 2010) and a few observe an increase (Andolz et al....
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TL;DR: The latest advances in assisted reproductive techniques give older men a chance to have a child even with poor semen parameters, and further studies should investigate the onset of gonadal senesce and its effects on aging men.
Abstract: The study aims to discuss the effects of aging on the male reproductive system. A systematic review was performed using PubMed from 1980 to 2014. Aging is a natural process comprising of irreversible changes due to a myriad of endogenous and environmental factors at the level of all organs and systems. In modern life, as more couples choose to postpone having a child due to various socioeconomic reasons, research for understanding the effects of aging on the reproductive system has gained an increased importance. Paternal aging also causes genetic and epigenetic changes in spermatozoa, which impair male reproductive functions through their adverse effects on sperm quality and count as, well as, on sexual organs and the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Hormone production, spermatogenesis, and testes undergo changes as a man ages. These small changes lead to decrease in both the quality and quantity of spermatozoa. The offspring of older fathers show high prevalence of genetic abnormalities, childhood cancers, and several neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition, the latest advances in assisted reproductive techniques give older men a chance to have a child even with poor semen parameters. Further studies should investigate the onset of gonadal senesce and its effects on aging men.
135 citations
References
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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
"Semen quality and age-specific chan..." refers background in this paper
...subjects, [2] inclusion of pathological disorders, [3] low number of study population, [4] improper statistical modeling, [5] regional and temporal differences, and [6] intertechnician variability in scoring....
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01 Jan 1980
TL;DR: This laboratory manual consists of 2 sections which describe methods of examination of human semen and semen-cervical mucus interaction in order to standardize procedures and facilitate evaluation and comparison of research reports.
Abstract: This laboratory manual consists of 2 sections which describe methods of examination of human semen and semen-cervical mucus interaction in order to standardize procedures and facilitate evaluation and comparison of research reports The section on semen collection and examination discusses and makes recommendations for sample collection and delivery; initial examination; motility assessment estimation of sperm density; examination of particulate debris; agglutination; sperm viability; counting the spermatozoa; and analysis of morphological characteristics of germinal cells including preparation of seminal fluid smears staining method and classification and quantification of germinal cells and leucocytes Photomicrographs are provided to demonstrate morphological characteristics of normal and abnormal mature sperm immature germinal cells and leucocytes and epithelial cells Appendices provide information on frequency of various sperm forms in a normal ejaculate Papanicolaou staining procedure for sperm and the Bryan/Leishman stain for seminal fluid morphology smears A sample record for sperm analysis is also included The section on sperm-cervical mucus interaction describes the composition and characteristics of the mucus the collection procedure storage and preservation and evaluation including pH Methods of evaluating sperm-cervical mucus interaction are then described The timing and techniques of the post-coital test vaginal pool sample exocervical and low cervical samples and endocervical samples and their interpretation are discussed Instructions are provided for in vitro studies including the capillary tube test and the slide technique
2,141 citations
TL;DR: The volume of seminal fluid, the sperm concentration, and the percentages of motile and morphologically normal spermatozoa in 1351 healthy fertile men from 1973 through 1992 were measured.
Abstract: Background Several studies have suggested a population-wide decline in the quality of semen over the past 50 years, but clear evidence of decreasing semen quality in recent decades is lacking. Methods From 1973 through 1992 we measured the volume of seminal fluid, the sperm concentration, and the percentages of motile and morphologically normal spermatozoa in 1351 healthy fertile men. The data on the semen samples were collected at one sperm bank in Paris. The data in each calendar year were analyzed as a function of the year of donation, the age of each patient, the year of birth, and the duration of sexual abstinence before semen collection. Results There was no change in semen volume during the study period. The mean concentration of sperm decreased by 2.1 percent per year, from 89 ×106 per milliliter in 1973 to 60×106 per milliliter in 1992 (P<0.001). During the same period the percentages of motile and normal spermatozoa decreased by 0.6 percent and 0.5 percent per year, respectively (both P<0.001). ...
1,067 citations
TL;DR: The weight of the evidence suggests that increased male age is associated with a decline in semen volume, sperm motility, and sperm morphology but not with sperm concentration.
644 citations
TL;DR: Detailed reanalysis of data from 61 studies supports a significant decline in sperm density in the United States and Europe and identifies the cause(s) of regional and temporal differences, whether environmental or other.
Abstract: In 1992 a worldwide decline in sperm density was reported; this was quickly followed by numerous critiques and editorials. Because of the public health importance of this finding, a detailed reanalysis of data from 61 studies was warranted to resolve these issues. Multiple linear regression models (controlling for abstinence time, age, percent proven fertility, specimen collection method, study goal and location) were used to examine regional differences and the interaction between region (United States, Europe, and non-Western countries) and year. Nonlinear models and residual confounding were also examined in these data. Using a linear model (adjusted R2 = 0. 80), means and slopes differed significantly across regions (p = 0. 02). Mean sperm densities were highest in Europe and lowest in non-Western countries. A decline in sperm density was seen in the United States (studies from 1938-1988; slope = -1.50; 95% confidence interval (CI), -1.90--1.10) and Europe (1971-1990; slope = -3.13; CI, -4.96- -1.30), but not in non-Western countries (1978-1989; slope = 1.56; CI, -1.00-4.12). Results from nonlinear models (quadratic and spline) were similar. Thus, further analysis of these studies supports a significant decline in sperm density in the United States and Europe. Confounding and selection bias are unlikely to account for these results. However, some intraregional differences were as large as mean decline in sperm density between 1938 and 1990, and recent reports from Europe and the United States further support large interarea differences in sperm density. Identifying the cause(s) of these regional and temporal differences, whether environmental or other, is clearly warranted.
473 citations
"Semen quality and age-specific chan..." refers background in this paper
...subjects, [2] inclusion of pathological disorders, [3] low number of study population, [4] improper statistical modeling, [5] regional and temporal differences, and [6] intertechnician variability in scoring....
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