Impact of Selected Lifestyle Factors on Semen Quality in Iraqi Men

Abstract

Background: Millions of people in their reproductive years are affected by infertility around the globe, which has consequences for their families and communities. Presently, various factors related to lifestyle (such as age, BMI, and smoking) are greatly responsible for male infertility. The primary goal of performing a semen analysis is to evaluate a man's ability to fertilize, estimate his fertility, and this process is comparatively easier, less invasive, and cheaper than examining the female. Objectives: In Iraqi males of infertile couples, this study aims to establish the correlation between paternal age, body mass index, and smoking habit, and its impact on semen parameters. Materials and Methods: During their attendance at a private infertility clinic from July 2021 to October 2022, a total of 120 couples struggling with infertility took part in the study. The males were subjected to semen analysis, following the guidelines set by WHO-1999. The study aimed to assess the impact of factors such as paternal age, body mass index, and smoking habits on semen parameters. These factors were then subjected to statistical testing to determine their significance. Results: Secondary infertility, the most prevalent among all infertile couples (n=69), is characterized by inversely related sperm parameters when considering the duration of infertility. The decrease in sperm concentration, rapid progressive motility, and normal morphology resulting from the impact of aging process, body weight, and smoking habit was found to be statistically significant (p-value