Semen analysis

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

Are oxidative stress markers associated with unexplained male infertility

Abstract: Summary Male infertility can be responsible for up to 20% of the cases attending fertility consultation facilities; nonetheless, the underlying molecular mechanisms that could explain it are still elusive. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate conventional and functional parameters of semen samples from patients who presented with male infertility of unknown origin. Conventional semen parameters and functional parameters (i.e. intracellular reactive oxygen species production, mitochondrial membrane potential, sperm chromatin structure assay, sperm membrane lipid peroxidation and antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma) were evaluated on semen samples from 54 healthy donors, 23 patients with idiopathic infertility and 34 fertile controls. No significant differences were observed in the conventional seminal parameters between the fertile and infertile men. However, increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA fragmentation were observed in the infertile patients compared to the fertile group. Alterations in intracellular ROS production and DNA fragmentation could be associated with male idiopathic infertility. These parameters could eventually distinguish both groups more accurately than the conventional parameters. Our current results are encouraging, and the efficacy of these parameters in the clinical settings needs to be further assessed to establish their predictive potential as a marker of unexplained male infertility.

Decline in sperm count and motility in young adult men from 2003 to 2013: observations from a U.S. sperm bank.

Abstract: Controversy exists regarding stability of semen quality over time with papers reporting decrease, increase or stable parameters in heterogeneous populations. The current study examined semen parameters of young adult men from 2003 to 2013 at an urban U.S. sperm bank. Semen parameters were analyzed before and after cryopreservation for a total of 9425 specimens from 489 individuals. Demographic information was obtained from a social and medical history questionnaire. Following 2-3 days abstinence, the specimens were collected at the laboratory and assessed by uniform technicians and techniques. The data were analyzed using generalized linear regression after adjustment for age, days of abstinence, for repeated samples, as well as by the Cochran-Armitage trend test. The within variability was accounted for by the repeated measures model. All p values were two-sided with p < 0.05 considered significant. There was a significant decline in sperm concentration (-3.55, 95% CI -4.87, -2.23; p < 0.001), total motility (-1.23, 95% CI -1.65, -0.82; p < 0.001), total count (-10.75, 95% CI -15.95, -5.54; p < 0.001) and total motile count (-9.43, 95% CI -13.14, -5.73; p < 0.001). There was no significant change in semen volume (0.03, 95% CI -0.02, 0.09; p = 0.2). The post-thaw total motility significantly (-2.30, 95% CI -2.72, -1.87; p < 0.001) decreased with time. Importantly, demographic and lifestyle factors were stable or improved over the study period. There was a decline in age (p(trend) = 0.003) and alcohol use (p(trend) = 0.005) and an increase in college GPA (Grade Point Average) (p(trend) = 0.02). BMI (p(trend) = 0.73), educational attainment (p(trend) = 0.2), race/ethnicity (p(trend) = 0.53), and lifestyle habits (weekly exercise, p(trend) = 0.21; smoking, p(trend) = 0.99; marital status, p(trend) = 0.85) remained constant. Uniform technicians and techniques over the study period make measurement bias unlikely. This report demonstrates a decline in semen quality among young adult men in the Boston area who were attending or completed a college education during the past 10 years, and requires further study.

Persistent spermatozoa after vasectomy: a survey of British urologists.

Abstract: Objectives To determine the rate of, and main indications for, repeat vasectomy in our department, and to assist in policy-making procedures by determining how urologists in England and Wales manage those men who show small but persistent quantities of motile or non-motile spermatozoa in their ejaculate after vasectomy. Subjects and methods A retrospective review of all of the vasectomies and repeat vasectomies performed by the Urology Department at Southmead Hospital during a 14-month period was undertaken to determine the rate of and indications for repeat vasectomy. Subsequently, every consultant urologist in England and Wales was canvassed with a questionnaire to determine whether they repeated vasectomy in the presence of persistent motile or non-motile sperms and if so, after what time interval. Any experience of pregnancies arising from these groups was also assessed, and any relevant comments invited. Results The local review revealed that 5% of all vasectomies were repeated within 6-36 months. Of these, 87% were performed because of persistent sperms in post-vasectomy semen samples, the majority of which showed sperm concentrations of one in 50 to one in 100 high-power fields. A response of 56% was obtained to the questionnaire and of those responding, 23% never repeated a vasectomy where there were persistent non-motile sperms, but almost all urologists would eventually repeat vasectomy where motile sperms were present. The median interval between the first and second vasectomies was 6 months and 12 months for motile and non-motile sperm, respectively. Apart from those cases already published, there was little experience of pregnancy arising from men with persistently few motile or non-motile sperms. Conclusions The risk of pregnancy occurring in the presence of non-motile sperms was estimated to be less than the established risk of late recanalization, and this survey provides both logical and medico-legal support for issuing a 'special clearance' to men with few persistent non-motile sperm after vasectomy, providing the risks of pregnancy are properly discussed and documented. For motile sperm, however, there appears to be a stronger precedent for repeating the vasectomy. The technique used for post-vasectomy semen analysis was also an important consideration when determining any policy regarding such cases.

Sympathetic Orchiopathia—An Experimental and Clinical Study

Abstract: Summary— An experimental and a clinical study have been performed to elucidate the nature of contralateral testicular damage following unilateral testicular injury—sympathetic orchiopathia. In an experimental study significant impairment of sperm production was produced by contralateral testicular damage which did not seem to be immunologically mediated or to involve the breakdown of the “blood-testis” barrier. In 5 subfertile patients with oligozoospermia and unilateral testicular damage, removal of the damaged testicle did not result in an improvement in their semen analysis.

ART success and in vivo sperm cell selection depend on the ultramorphological status of spermatozoa.

Abstract: Summary. Management of male infertility has recently shifted from treatment of the subfertile man towards techniques of assisted reproduction (ART). This study aimed to evaluate the possible role of the ultramorphological status of the spermatozoon with respect to sperm selection in vivo and prediction of ART success. Ultramorphological sperm parameters were assessed retrospectively for 92 males with sufficient sperm density (107 spermatozoa ejaculate−1) whose wives conceived following a stepwise discarding of the female genital tract barriers, using intra-uterine insemination (IUI) (n= 26), in vitro fertilization (IVF) (n= 45) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) (n= 21). In parallel, sperm samples of 71 fertile males were examined. Normal ultramorphology of all head and tail subcellular organelles was found to be essential for the ability of spermatozoa to pass the lower female genital tract. The ultramorphological migration threshold for this barrier is apparently higher than that essential for oocyte fertilization. No specific indication associated with passage through the upper genital tract was found. A high prevalence of axonema defects was found to impair the ability of sperm cells to penetrate the oocyte investment. The natural fertility index, based on routine sperm parameters and the ultrastructural status of the spermatozoon's subcellular organelles was confirmed to be beneficial for directing patients to ART. A discriminative score based on axonema integrity was found to contribute additional information for the first choice decision between conventional ART and ICSI (75% prediction ability). Thus it may be helpful in finding the simplest and least expensive procedure with the greatest long-term chance for pregnancy.