MP26-14 EXTERNAL VALIDATION OF THE POST-VARICOCELECTOMY SEMEN QUALITY NOMOGRAM TO PREDICT TOTAL MOTILE SPERM COUNT

Abstract STUDY QUESTION What is the relationship between abnormal BMI and semen quality? SUMMARY ANSWER Underweight was significantly associated with lower sperm concentration, total sperm number and total motile sperm count, while overweight was significantly associated with lower semen volume, total sperm number and total motile sperm count. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Abnormal BMI has been associated with lower semen quality, but the results remain somewhat controversial. In addition, most previous studies have focused on the influence of obesity or overweight on semen quality, and evidence on the association between underweight and semen quality is rare. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This research was an observational study investigating 3966 sperm donors from a large sperm bank in Wuhan city, China. These donors passed the screening for sperm donation and underwent 29 949 semen examinations between 1 January 2013 and 9 April 2018. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS BMI was categorized into four groups: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25–29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥30 kg/m2). Semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm number, total motility, progressive motility and total motile sperm count were determined by trained clinical technicians. Linear mixed models were used to conduct dose–response analyses between BMI and semen quality parameters. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Underweight was significantly associated with a 3.0% (95% CI: 0.1%, 5.8%), 6.7% (1.9%, 11.3%) and 7.4% (2.2%, 12.4%) reduction in sperm concentration, total sperm number and total motile sperm count, respectively. Overweight was significantly associated with a 4.2% (1.6%, 6.8%), 3.9% (0.9%, 6.9%) and 3.6% (0.2%, 6.9%) reduction in semen volume, total sperm number and total motile sperm count, respectively. Non-linear models including continuous BMI as a natural cubic spline function yielded similar results. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Our study subjects were sperm donors who are typically young and healthy, and therefore not representative of the general male population. Caution should be paid in generalizing our results to other populations. Furthermore, we did not measure the donors’ weight repeatedly along with each semen donation; instead, we only measured it once during the screening, which may cause bias due to the variations of weight across time. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study provides evidence that underweight and overweight are associated with lower semen quality, and highlights the importance of maintaining a normal weight for men. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by the Health and Family Planning Commission of Hubei Province (Grant number WJ2015MA027), the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, and Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research at the University of Iowa. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.

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Decline in semen quality among infertile men during the past 15 years in Western Algeria (SIDI-BEL-ABBES)

South Asian Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.38150/sajeb.6(4).p112-118 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 112-118

Author(s):

El-haina Fatima Zohra ◽

Bendahmane Malika

Keyword(s):

Semen Quality ◽

Sperm Count ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

Semen Parameters ◽

Motile Sperm ◽

Infertile Men ◽

Semen Volume ◽

Western Algeria ◽

Study Population ◽

Total Motile Sperm Count

The current study aimed at measuring changes in semen quality and quantity in young healthy sperm of the partner in western Algeria over 15 years. A retrospective analysis of semen parameters over 15 years was carried out using linear regression analysis, at the fertility laboratory in West Algeria. Study population consisted of 188 young partners, aged 25 to 35 years, who donated sperm samples for artificial insemination between 2000 and 2015. Their wives with infertility problems were surveyed using questionnaire about their lifestyles and infertility factors. There were no statistically significant changes in semen concentration and motility during the study period. The mean semen volume increased by 0.1 mL per year (P < 0.0001), with a concomitant mean rise of 5.8 × 106 per year in total motile sperm count. The percentage of sperm normal morphology decreased by a mean of 1% per year during the entire period (P < 0.0001). During these 15 past years, there has been an increase in total motile sperm count, and semen volume where-as, a decline in normal sperm morphology has been noticed that is independ-ent of the age and the duration of abstinence of infertile men.

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Role of total motile sperm count in the evaluation of young men with bilateral subclinical varicocele and asthenospermia

Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia ◽

10.4081/aiua.2020.4.366 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 92 (4) ◽

Author(s):

Georgios Tsampoukas ◽

Athanasios Dellis ◽

Antigoni Katsouri ◽

Dominic Brown ◽

Konstantinos Deliveliotis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Class Group ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Sperm Count ◽

Motile Sperm ◽

Class A ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Group 2 ◽

Total Motile Sperm Count ◽

Group 1

Introduction: In comparison to its clinical analogue, the subclinical varicocele represents a questionable entity and specific guidelines for the optimal management are lacking. In our previous study of patients with subclinical varicocele, we showed that bilateral condition is associated with risk of dyspermia. In the present study, we evaluated the risk of deterioration of semen quality in men with bilateral disease and impaired motility according to WHO criteria. Materials and methods: Men with bilateral subclinical varicocele, not desiring fatherhood at the time of presentation, were included in study. During initial evaluation, the number of Total Motile Sperm Count (TMSC) was calculated and the patients’ age, total testicular volume (TTV), maximum venous size and mean resistive index (RI) of the intratesticular arteries were recorded. We classified the participants in five classes according to the TMSC reading: class A-: TMSC < 5 x 106, class A: TMSC between 5-10 x 106, class B: TMSC between 10-15 x 106, class C: TMSC between 15-20 x 106, and class D: TMSC > 20 x 106 per ejaculate. The participants were seen after 6 months for a repeat spermiogram and physical examination. If clinical varicocele was diagnosed or a new abnormality in the spermiogram was noted, the participants were excluded from the study. The remaining patients were allocated to two groups according to the repeat TMSC reading: patients sub-classified into a lower class (group 1), and patients remaining at the same class (group 2). A comparative analysis was performed between two groups. Results: Nineteen men were included. Nine patients were subclassified (group 1). Three patients moved to A- class (< 5 x 106). Ten patients remained in the same class having no deterioration (group 2). Comparing the two groups, no statistically significant difference was recognized for age, TTV, maximum venous size on both sides, and mean RI (p > 0.05). However, the initial reading for TMSC was 14.57 x 106 in group 1, and 22.84 x 106 in group 2, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Additionally, in a paired analysis there was a significant difference in TMSC after 6 months (p < 0.05), too. Summary Conclusions: Young men with bilateral varicocele and asthenospermia seem to be at risk of deterioration in their semen quality after a follow-up of 6 months. The measurement of TMSC can unmask patients at risk, whereas men with the lowest readings seem to be at highest risk for deterioration. The possibility of a worsening sperm quality should be considered in the appropriate clinical context.

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Land use and semen quality: A fertility center cohort study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0255985 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. e0255985

Author(s):

Seung-Ah Choe ◽

Seulgi Kim ◽

Changmin Im ◽

Sun-Young Kim ◽

Gregory Wellenius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Built Environment ◽

Fresh Water ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Sperm Count ◽

Positive Association ◽

Semen Parameters ◽

Exposure Model ◽

Motile Sperm ◽

Progressive Motility ◽

Total Motile Sperm Count

This study explored the association between built environment and semen parameters among men who sought fertility evaluation. We used a data of 5,886 men living in the Seoul capital area whose semen was tested at a single fertility center during 2016–2018. Distance to fresh water, the coast, major roadways, and neighborhood greenness measured by Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were evaluated. Outcome indicators were semen volume, sperm concentration, percentage of progressive motility, vitality, normal morphology, and total motile sperm count. Linear regression models were fitted to standardized values of six semen indicators. Majority of men were white-collar, clerical, and service workers. Linear associations between built environment features and semen quality indicators were not evident except for NDVI within 500 m and sperm vitality (β = 0.05; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01, 0.09). The 2nd quartile of distance to fresh water was associated with lower progressive motility compared to the 1st quartile (β = −0.10; 95% CI: −0.17, −0.03). Proportion of vitality was higher among men in the 2nd quartile of distance to roadways than those in the 1st quartile (0.08; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.15). Men in the 2nd quartile of NDVI had higher total motile sperm count (0.09; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.17). In the multi-exposure model, the positive association between NDVI and vitality remained (0.03; 95% CI: 0.00, 0.06). We observed potential evidence regarding the impact of built environment on male fertility, specifically a positive association between residential greenness and sperm vitality among men with a history of infertility.

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Post-wash total motile sperm count a useful predictor in the decision to perform IVF/ICSI in patients with non-male factor infertility

Journal of Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University ◽

10.32593/jstmu/vol3.iss2.108 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 99-106

Author(s):

Sara Mahmood Qureshi ◽

Salma Kafeel ◽

Riffat Bibi ◽

Jawad Mohmand

Keyword(s):

Sperm Quality ◽

Sperm Count ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Male Factor Infertility ◽

Motile Sperm ◽

Operating Characteristics ◽

Male Factor ◽

Vitro Fertilization ◽

Total Motile Sperm Count

Introduction: The unrestricted use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for non-male factor infertility is associated with adverse outcomes. Post-wash total motile sperm count (PW-TMSC) offers prognostic value to assess sperm quality and aid in the decision to perform in vitro fertilization (IVF) or ICSI. Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the effect of PW-TMSC on fertilization rates in patients undergoing IVF cycles exclusively with non-male factor infertility. It also aimed to identify whether unnecessary ICSI could be avoided in such cases, thus maximizing optimal outcomes. Materials & Methods: We retrospectively analyzed age, semen volume, prewash TMSC, and PW-TMSC in 68 conventional IVF cycles of infertile couples with non-male factor infertility. Clinical characteristics including female age, number of follicles, level of estradiol on trigger day, mature cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) collected, were also included. Results: Incidence of <30% fertilization was significantly higher in the 4-<10 Million group compared with the ≥20 Million post-wash TMSC group (P<0.001). Furthermore, Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis revealed post-wash TMSC as a significant predictor (P<0.05) of total failed fertilization (TFF) and of ≥30% fertilization (P<0.05) with area under curve (AUC) of 0. 79 and 0.77, respectively, with a deemed cutoff of 10.89 Million. Conclusion: Post-wash TMSC is a good predictor of fertilization; it can help in avoiding potentially low or even total fertilization failure (TFF). A cut-off point of 10.89 Million or less should warrant the use of ICSI.

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