Investigation of Spermatic Abnormalities Associated with Smoking at The Hospital Center for Research and Application in Endoscopic Surgery and Human Reproduction, Cameroon, Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction: The gradual deterioration of sperm parameters, observed over the years, is attributed to environmental factors such as tobacco. Smoking has already been incriminated in erectile dysfunction as well as in alterations in sperm quality. This study aims to determine the spermatic abnormalities associated with active and/or passive exposure to smoking. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted over a period of 8 months (September 2016 - April 2017) at the Hospital Center for Research and Application in Endoscopic Surgery and Human Reproduction. All men with spermatic abnormalities who agreed to give informed consent were included consecutively. The mode of exposure to smoking and spermatic abnormalities were sought. The statistical analysis was done using the software Epi info version 3.5.4. using the Chi-square test with a value of p <0.05 considered as statistically significant. Results: A total of 228 men with a spermatic anomaly were included in the study, of whom 82 (36.0%) were exposed to smoking. The proportion of men with oligozoospermia was higher among smokers (49, 59.8%) than among non-smokers (62, 42.5%), similarly for those with oligoasthenozoospermia (smokers: 25, 30.5% vs. no smokers 37, 25.3%). These differences were statistically significant for oligozoospermia (p = 0.012) and oligoasthenozoospermia (p = 0.028). Conclusion: Spermatic abnormalities found in passive and/or active tobacco exposure were oligozoospermia and oligoasthenozoospermia.