A Descriptive Study Exploring Semen Quality Among Indian Cancer Patients

Abstract

Purpose: To descriptively explore semen quality among Indian men with various types of malignancies. We evaluated semen parameters of male patients referred to our hospital before commencing their cancer treatment. Methods: Four hundred sixty-one male patients who were within the age range of 15-50 years were recruited with diagnosed malignancies. Pre-treatment semen analyses were performed on these patients to collect data on the volume, sperm concentration, motility, and normal forms (morphology). These semen parameters were compared between cancer groups (testicular cancer, hematological cancer, and other cancers). Further comparisons were also drawn to World Health Organization (WHO) semen parameter levels (2010, fifth edition) for normal outcomes. Results: There were no notable variations observed in semen volume (mL) and progressive motility (%) between cancer groups. These parameters were within the WHO normal semen criteria. Differences in normal forms (%) between cancer groups were not observed either; however, they were marginally lower compared with the WHO criteria. Sperm concentration was evidently lower in testicular cancer 34 × 106/mL (IQR: 10.1-60 × 106/mL) compared with hematological cancers 66 × 106/mL (IQR: 23-84.21 × 106/mL) and other cancers (IQR: 27-86.3 × 106/mL). Testicular cancer patients also presented with the largest semen disorder diagnosis (Asthenozoospermia, Oligoasthenozoospermia, Oligozoospermia, and Azoospermia) compared with two other groups. Conclusion: Males with testicular cancer have shown to have lower semen quality between cancer groups and compared with WHO criteria, increasing their likelihood of them being infertile. This study further allows us to understand these outcomes, particularly in the Indian subpopulation, propagating changes in guidelines in oncofertility and medical counseling. Clinical Trials Registry-India number: CTRI/2020/09/027720.