Abstract
BackgroundOver the last years, there has been an increasing concern about a global decline in men’s fertility. Specifically, some evidence indicates that sperm quality has decreased over the last years. However, reports showing the changes in sperm quality with time are inconsistent. Part of the contradictions between studies is attributed to geographical differences. Surprisingly, few studies include data from South American countries, creating a bias in the conclusions. This study aims to determine how sperm quality has evolved over the past 30 years in Uruguay. For this purpose, 317 medical records from allegedly healthy sperm donor candidates, aged between 18 and 36 years old, who voluntarily requested to be considered as sperm donors between 1988 and 2019, were analyzed. The studied variables were the following sperm parameters: semen volume, sperm cell concentration, total sperm number, progressive motility, vitality, and sperm morphology. A correlative statistical analysis was performed between seminal parameter values and the year data were collected.ResultsWe found a statistically significant decrease in sperm concentration and normal sperm morphology during the studied period. There was no decrease in vitality, seminal volume, and total progressive motility. Semen parameters were not associated with tobacco, drugs, or alcohol consumption.ConclusionsWe conclude that the sperm quality of donor candidates in Uruguay decreased during this period. Further studies should be carried out to verify the occurrence of this phenomenon in the general population and find its possible causes.
Highlights
Over the last years, there has been an increasing concern about a global decline in men’s fertility
À cette fin, 317 dossiers médicaux de candidats donneurs de sperme prétendument en bonne santé, âgés de 18 à 36 ans, qui ont volontairement demandé à être considérés comme donneurs de sperme entre 1988 et 2019, ont été analysés
Nous concluons que la qualité du sperme des candidats donneurs en Uruguay a diminué au cours de cette période
Summary
There has been an increasing concern about a global decline in men’s fertility. This study aims to determine how sperm quality has evolved over the past 30 years in Uruguay. There is an important current controversy regarding the possibility that the male factor -by a decrement of semen quality parameters- may have firmly contributed to the decline of fertility indexes. Some reports showed a deterioration of sperm quality [7,8,9,10] but others did not [11, 12] The difference among these findings may be a consequence of changing laboratory methods, statistical issues, heterogeneity of populations selected for studies (fertile or infertile men, geographical regions, ethnic groups) [13]. The latest data from South America come from very few studies carried out in Brazil [19], Argentina, and Venezuela [20, 21]
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