Semen analysis

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

Semen Analysis in Testicular Cancer and Hodgkin's Disease: Pre‐ and Post‐Treatment Findings and Implications for Cryopreservation

Abstract: Summary— Over a 7–year period, seminal analysis has been performed on 208 patients with testicular tumours, after orchiectomy, but before any other treatment. Only 22% of 54 patients with seminomas, and 29% of 154 patients with teratomas or mixed tumours, had sperm counts exceeding 10 million per ml. Very low sperm counts were observed in some patients who had previously fathered children. Post-treatment sperm counts were done in 117 patients, 80 of whom had received multiple drug chemotherapy: 42 of these men had pre- and post-treatment sperm counts. Overall, 24% of men receiving chemotherapy recovered sperm counts greater than 10 million per ml up to 3 years after therapy. Surprisingly, such recovery was seen in 35% of 23 men with initially poor sperm counts, but in only 26% of 19 with good initial counts. Only 27% of 49 patients with Hodgkin's disease had initial sperm counts of more than 10 million per ml; after chemotherapy only 1 of 29 patients recovered to this level. Only one quarter of these young men had semen which was adequate for cryopreservation. Artificial insemination with semen preserved in liquid nitrogen has been performed in 15 couples: 2 normal babies have been produced and a third pregnancy is progressing normally.

Breeding Soundness Evaluation and Semen Analysis for Predicting Bull Fertility

Abstract: Bull fertility is influenced by numerous factors. Although 20-40% of bulls in an unselected population may have reduced fertility, few are completely sterile. Breeding soundness refers to a bull's ability to get cows pregnant. A standard breeding soundness evaluation identifies bulls with substantial deficits in fertility, but does not consistently identify sub-fertile bulls. In this regard, the use of frozen-thawed semen (from bulls in commercial AI centres) that meets minimum quality standards can result in pregnancy rates that differ by 20-25 percentage points. Although no single diagnostic test can accurately predict variations in fertility among bulls that are producing apparently normal semen, recent studies suggested that a combination of laboratory tests were predictive of fertility. This review is focused on recent developments in prediction of bull fertility, based on assessments at the molecular, cellular and whole-animal levels.

PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonate) in serum is negatively associated with testosterone levels, but not with semen quality, in healthy men

Abstract: study question: Is exposure to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) associated with testicular function (reproductive hormone levels and semen quality) in healthy men? summary answer: PFOS levels were significantly negatively associated with serum testosterone (total and calculated free), but not with any other reproductive hormones or semen quality. what is known already: In animals, some PFCs have endocrine disrupting potential, but few studies have investigated PFCs in relation to human testicular function. Previously, we and others have observed a negative association between serum PFC levels and sperm morphology. The potential associations with reproductive hormones remain largely unresolved. study design, size, duration: A cross-sectional study of 247 men was conducted during 2008– 2009. participants/materials, setting, methods: Healthy men from the general population, median age of 19 years, gave serum and semen samples. Serum samples were analysed for total testosterone (T), estradiol (E), sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and inhibin-B and 14 PFCs, including perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS). Semen samples were analysed according to the WHO criteria. main results and the role of chance: PFOS levels were negatively associated with testosterone (T), calculated free testosterone (FT), free androgen index (FAI) and ratios of T/LH, FAI/LH and FT/LH. Other PFCs were found at lower levels than PFOS and did not exhibit the same associations. PFC levels were not significantly associated with semen quality. PFOS levels in these samples collected in 2008– 2009 were lower than in our previous study of men participating in 2003. limitations, reasons for caution: Results were robust to adjustment for relevant confounders; however, the possibility of chance associations due to multiple testing or effects of uncontrolled confounding cannot be ruled out. wider implications of the findings: Our previous findings of decreased sperm morphology in the most highly PFC exposed men were not replicated, possibly due to a lack of highly exposed individuals; however, a recent independent study also did corroborate such an inverse association. The negative association between serum PFOS and testosterone indicates that testosterone production may be compromised in individuals with high PFOS exposure.