Semen analysis

About: Semen analysis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4909 publications have been published within this topic receiving 143225 citations.

Second to fourth digit ratios, male genital development and reproductive health: a clinical study among fertile men and testis cancer patients

Abstract: Summary Second- to fourth-digit length ratio, 2D : 4D, is a marker of testosterone level during foetal life that was found associated with sperm concentration or testosterone levels in some studies, but not in others, a difference possibly related to the way the ratio is assessed. In this study, 2D : 4D was assessed in 122 men partners of pregnant women and in 71 testicular cancer patients using a new method based on direct measurements of finger lengths. In addition, we investigated the association between 2D : 4D, birth weight, testicular volume, semen quality and time to pregnancy. A validation study of the method demonstrated high reliability and reproducibility. Neither digit lengths nor 2D : 4D significantly differed in both groups of men. We found a significant negative association between 2D : 4D and birth weight in testicular cancer patients. In fertile men, 2D : 4D was associated with testicular volume (r = −0.36, p < 0.001), total sperm number (r = −0.18, p = 0.04) and time to pregnancy (r = 0.24, p < 0.02). In addition, participants with a history of epididymal cyst had a significantly higher 2D : 4D than those without cysts. In conclusion, all significant findings indicate that the human male reproductive function is negatively related to 2D : 4D. However, 2D : 4D for testicular cancer patients does not point to a hormonal imbalance during foetal life as the common cause for developing germ-cell cancer. Such results obtained, thanks to an easy, direct and reliable method for measuring finger lengths, suggest the usefulness of this new tool in fertility studies as well as for studying men with developmental disorders of the reproductive tract.

Human papillomavirus sperm infection and assisted reproduction: a dangerous hazard with a possible safe solution

Abstract: background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been demonstrated in the sperm of a large percentage of sexually active males and is associated with an impairment of sperm parameters, with a particular negative impact on sperm motility, suggesting a possible role in male infertility. Conventional sperm selection techniques have a low efficiency in removing HPV. methods: Evaluation of sperm parameters, terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling test to evaluate DNA fragmentation and fluorescence in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry for HPV were performed on semen samples from infected patients (n ¼ 22), control subjects (n ¼ 13) and on pooled control sperm samples incubated with HPV16-L1 (HPV capsid), before and after direct swim-up and modified swim-up (with added Heparinase-III). Moreover, cytofluorimetry for HPV detection was performed in pooled sperm pre- and post-incubation with HPV 16-L1 before and after direct and modified swim-up. Statistical analysis was performed with a two-tailed Student’s t-test. results: Direct swim-up reduces the number of HPV-infected sperm by � 24% (P , 0.01), while modified swim-up is able to remove completely HPV DNA both from naturally and artificially infected sperm. Enzymatic treatment with Heparinase-III tended to decrease sperm motility, viability and DNA integrity but the effects were not significant. conclusions: This study shows that Heparinase-III treatment seems not to affect spermatozoa in vitro and suggests that this treatment should be investigated further as a means of preparing sperm from patients who are infected with HPV in order to reduce the risk of HPV infection when using assisted reproduction techniques.

Studies of human semen in topical corticosteroid-treated and in methotrexate-treated psoriatics.

Abstract: Ejaculates were studied from ten men with severa psoriasis treated with topical corticosteroids and from ten similar patients who had received methotrexate therapy from 1 to 9 years. It was not possible to demonstrate any unfavorable effect on the semen quality during the methotrexate therapy. The semen analysis was more frequently found normal (p = 0.04) in the methotrexate treated group, and no specific abnormality was found in spermatozoa of methotrexate-treated patients. Methotrexate therapy to male psoriatics seems safe and in agreement with this no congenital abnormalities have been reported. A remarkable number of the ejaculates had reduced sperm qualities, and it is proposed that this might be due to psoriatic lesions in the genital tract.