#163 : Stress and Occupation Impair Male Fertility

Abstract

Background and Aims: Jakarta is a metropolitan city of Indonesia and most people in Jakarta are working on various occupation such as technology-based and highly skilled occupations are common (construction workers, engineers, programmer, entrepreneurs) and desk-based workers. Those occupation, stress from those occupation and environment may impair male fertility. This study was aimed to determine specific occupations, occupational stress and environment and their association with sperm parameter. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was used, and 24 male participants underwent IUI treatment in Yasmin Fertility Clinic, Jakarta were recruited. Sperm concentration, motility, morphology, velocity was analyzed using Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) and sperm DNA fragmentation index was assessed using Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (SCSA). Interview was also conducted to obtain information on age, length of marriage, biological children, occupational exposure, occupational-related psychological stress. The results were compared to parameter in WHO manual 6th edition. Results: All 24 participants experienced exposure to potential disruptor to fertility such as vehicle emission, smoke inhalation and computer radiation (Fig. 1). Their raw semen parameters were lower compared to WHO manual 6th edition. Further results indicated that washing increased the value of all standard parameters and reduced sperm DNA fragmentation index in all samples. Further results showed abnormal morphology and sperm on fresh ejaculate are affected by stress intensity and frequency. However, total motility and abnormal morphology are significant correlated to stress intensity and frequency on both before and after sperm washing (Table 1). Conclusion: Types of occupation and highly exposed to air pollution and/or demands prolonged time of sitting behaviour pose higher risk of sperm quality deterioration. Also, psychological stress resulted from workload may associate with sperm parameters outcome.