Sperm Abnormalities: In the Male Partners of Infertile Couples from Kanyakumari District

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackgroundInfertility has been identified as a health issue worldwide and it is of great concern among married couples in our society. Scientifically, it has been established that both males and females can contribute to infertility. However, in most cases, women are held responsible for the same without proper diagnosis. Statistically, female factors contribute to about 40–60% of infertility cases, whereas 20–40% of infertility cases are due to factors contributed by males, of which, deficiency in semen quality is the major cause which accounts for 40–50% of infertility cases. A decrease in semen quality has been reported which can be due to lifestyle changes, occupational exposures to chemicals, heat, and stress.AimsTo study the prevalence of infertility, distribution of sperm abnormalities, and the impact of occupation on men visiting a tertiary clinic.Settings and designMale partners of infertile couples who visited the fertility center were considered for the study.Materials and methodsSeminal fluid was analyzed for volume, sperm concentration, motility (progressive motility), and morphology.ResultsIn this study conducted in our center, we found that 55.8% of the patients had sperm abnormalities, among which teratozoospermia was the commonly observed anomaly.ConclusionMale factors equally contribute to infertility as female factors. Semen analysis is the crucial diagnostic test for infertility assessment of the male partner.Key messagesThe incidence of male infertility has been increasing recently and the evaluation and prognosis of male subfertility are challenging. Although semen analysis is the primary test for the assessment of infertility in males, it does not recognize the abnormality in idiopathic infertility. Thus, new techniques and methods need to be developed to improve accuracy and reduce variation.How to cite this articleViswambharan N, Manavalan M. Sperm Abnormalities: In the Male Partners of Infertile Couples from Kanyakumari District. Int J Infertil Fetal Med 2020;11(1):16–19.