Association between chronic pain and the sperm motion characteristics

Abstract

Abstract Aims Sex hormones play an important role in pain in many chronic pain conditions. Relationship between chronic pain and sperm quality has not been investigated thoroughly and may provide an insight to better understanding, management and treatment of cases where chronic pain and male sub-fertility co-exist. Methods Neat (fresh semen) and processed sperm from 15 males with orthopedic chronic pain (CP) were assessed and compared with 15 healthy age matched controls. Sperm analysis was performed using the SCA computer-aided sperm analyzer. Results There was no significant difference in any parameters of the neat semen between the pain and control group. However the percentage of non-progressive motile spermatozoa (type B) was significantly higher in the pain group (27.96) compared to the control group (15.96). Straight line trajectories including linearity, straightness, wobble and beat cross frequency were also significantly higher in the processed sample of the CP group. Conclusions This study demonstrated that chronic pain does not affect the sperm morphology, total concentration and motility based on conventional analysis but has significant influence at the level of sperm motion kinetics which could prove to be clinically valuable, prognostic indicators of successful fertilization. Maturation of sperm motility occurs during their transit through the epididymis and vas deferens regulated by androgens. As male gonadal hormones haveaninhibitory, adaptive effectonthe behavioral and neuronal responses to repeated nociceptive stimulation, it can be speculated that the observed difference in sperm kinematic parameters could be related to the alterations in serum sex hormone levels emanating from the chronic pain. Further studies are required to explain the possible mechanism of actionof chronic pain on male fertility.