Patterns of seminal fluid analysis in male partners of infertile couples attending gynaecology clinic at federal medical centre, Abeokuta

Abstract

Infertility affects 19% of the general population I, and this constitutes a reproductive health concern for the affected couples. The contribution of male factors as cause of infertility is increasingly being noted in the recent times and has become a source of concern to the affected couples with its attendant social and psychological effects and with the potential of threatening relationships. To assess the seminal fluid analysis parameters in male partners of infertile couples presenting at gynaecological clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta and to determine the patterns of seminal fluid abnormalities in the seminalysis results. The study is a 3 year retrospective review of seminal fluid analysis results of male partners in infertility cases at the Federal Medical Centre Abeokuta. Analysis was done using the WHO laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen revised fifth edition. During this study period, a total of 214 semen samples were analysed for semen quality over a 3 year period. Sixty four (30%) of the men had normal semen parameters, while one hundred and fifty (70%) had abnormal semen parameters. The abnormal semen parameters consists of low volume (12.6%), prolonged liquefaction time (9.8%), oligospermia (28%), azoospermia (8%), asthenozoospermia (25%), teratozoospermia (9%), combined defects of oligo-asthenozoospermia (23.8%), oligo-teratozoospermia (9.8%), asthenoteratozoospermia (12.60%) and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (11.20%). This study has confirmed that male factor infertility remains a significant contributor to infertility in our environment. Efforts should be made in enlightening men on the common aetiologies of abnormal semen and options of treatment of likely causes.