Seminal Fluid Analysis Research Articles

Red Palm Oil Attenuates Lead Acetate Induced Testicular Damage in Adult Male Sprague-Dawley Rats.

To study the protective effect of Red Palm Oil (RPO) on testicular damage induced by administration of lead acetate on male Sprague-Dawley rats, 28 rats divided into four groups of 7 animals each were used. They were administered orally with RPO (1 mL and 2 mL) and lead acetate (i.p.) 6 mg/kg body weight/day, respectively. Treatment was conducted for 8 weeks, and 24 hrs after the last treatment the rats were sacrificed using cervical dislocation. Sperms collected from epididymis were used for seminal fluid analyses; while the testes sample was used for ROS and oxidative enzyme activities assessment. Statistical analysis was carried out using GraphPad Prism 5.02 statistical analysis package. Administration of lead acetate increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) significantly (p < 0.05) as evidenced by the elevated value of H2O2 and LPO and decreased GSH level. Also there was reduced epididymal sperm count, poor grade of sperm motility, and lower percentage of normal sperm morphology significantly. Coadministration with RPO, however, has a protective effect against lead toxicity by decreasing H2O2 production, increased GSH level, and increased sperm qualities especially. This shows that RPO has a potential to attenuate the toxic effect of lead on testicular cells preventing possible resultant male infertility.

Male infertility: diagnostic and epidemiological aspect concerning 96 cases in a teaching university hospital of cotonou, benin republic

Objectives: The goal of this study is to describe the epidemiological and diagnostic aspect of male infertility in the Department of Urology and Andrology of the Hospital mentioned above. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study of 6 months duration at the Academic Clinic of Urology and Andrology of a Teaching Hospital in Cotonou. A total of 96 medical records of patients were retrieved for the study. Results: The average age of the patients was 37.2 ± 6.7 years old. About 59.4% of the cases were primary infertility. The average duration of the infertility was 51 months. From the patients past medical histories; 44.9% suffered from gonorrhea. On clinical examination, the findings were: Varicocele in 23% of the cases, testicular hypotrophy in 9.3% and epididymal cyst in 4.6%. The seminal fluid analysis revealed hypospermia in 30.1% of cases, azoospermia in 33.7%, asthenozoospermia in 75.5% and teratozoospermia in 61.5%. The pH was basic in 46.4% of the cases. Follicular stimulating hormone and testosterone levels were high in 48.1% and 12.5% of cases, respectively. About 31.6% of the cases had the positive chlamydial serological test. Semen culture was positive in 25% of the cases and the main organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus in 66.6% of the cases. Conclusion: Male infertility is the cause of couple infertility in around a third of the cases. In this study, we have found various etiologies of causes of male infertility. However, idiopathic causes could be found.

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

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.

EVALUATION OF EPIDIDYMAL AND TESTICULAR SPERM ASPIRATION IN AZOOSPERMIC INFERTILE MALES IN BASRAH

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous epididymal and testicular sperm aspiration as a diagnostic technique to confirm sperm production and as a therapeutic technique to harvest sperms for use in the intracytoplasmic sperm injection and the indications for performing testicular biopsy in azoospermic infertile males. Thirty married patients were included in this prospective study from February 2011 to December 2012 seen in Basrah General Hospital. Their age ranged from 20 to 40 years. All patients underwent full medical examination with laboratory tests which included seminal fluid analysis, serum leutinising hormone (LH), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, and prolactin in addition to color Doppler ultrasonography of the scrotum. Patients with history of undescended testes, varicocele, & testicular pathology were excluded from this study. All patients showed normal physical examination with normal secondary sexual characters. The external genitalia were normal with normal sizes of their testes. The percutaneous epididymal and testicular sperm aspirations were positive in 12 out of 30 patients (40%). The rest had negative aspirations (60%). The testicular biopsy which performed in the patients with negative aspiration showed normal germinal epithelium with mature spermatozoa in only 5 patients out of 18 (28%) while the rest 13 patients had spermatogenic arrest (72%). In conclusion, percutaneous epididymal and testicular sperm aspiration has been found helpful as a diagnostic technique for patients with non-reconstructable azoospermia. It is a minimally invasive sperm retrieval technique and appears to be an effective alternative to microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration, which is more invasive and costly. It is less invasive than testicular biopsy and preferably performed as a first step procedure in an attempt to obtain sperms for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

A Review On Male Infertility

Male subfertility is common, and it causes significant distress to couples. The most common cause of male subfertility is idiopathic failure of spermatogenesis, Compared to reproductive specialists, endocrinologists may see a population of men that have a higher prevalence of treatable causes of subfertility including sexual disorders, endocrinopathies, obesity, drugs, and ejaculatory dysfunction. Seminal fluid analysis is the most important diagnostic study, and at least 2 samples should be analyzed. All patients with sperm concentrations &lt; 10 million/mL due to idiopathic spermatogenic defects should be referred for genetic counseling and karyotyping; most experts also recommend that these patients be tested for Y chromosomal microdeletions. For most men with low sperm concentrations due to gonadotropin deficiency, gonadotropin therapy effectively increases spermatogenesis. The endocrinologist must recognize when to use medical therapy to stimulate spermatogenesis and when to refer for consideration of assisted reproductive technology.Birdem Med J 2014; 4(2): 94-104

Using Sperm chromatin Staining Techniques as a Predictive Diagnostic Tool for Male Infertility

Background: It is a scientific fact today that routine seminal analysis is only a poor predictor of male reproductive potentiality, so that there is an increased need for finding out new functional tests in the assessment of male infertility. Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the predictive value of sperm chromatin integrity assays as a complementary tool to assist in diagnosis of infertility. Methodology: This study was carried out between January 2013 and November 2013 including one hundred (100)selected infertile men who attended to fertility Center in Al-Sadr Medical City. The study also included twenty (20) healthy fertile volunteers as a control. Aniline blue (AB) staining was used to differentiate between normal condensed chromatin (unstained) and abnormal decondensed chromatin (blue), while toluidine blue (TB) was use to differentiate between normal intact sperm DNA (blue) and abnormal damaged sperm DNA (purple), this is the first study in Iraq that employed (TB) to assess sperm DNA fragmentation. Results: The results showed that there was a high significant difference (p&lt;0.01) in sperm chromatin decondensation and sperm DNA damage between infertile and fertile men. The study also revealed a significantdifference (p&lt;0.05) in sperm DNA damage between normozoospermic and fertile men, but no significant difference (p&gt;0.05) was found in the sperm chromatin condensation. Both sperm chromatin condensation and sperm DNA damage showed a significant positive correlation with sperm morphology, and a significant negative correlation with sperm concentration, motility and progressive motility. Conclusions: The study concluded that sperm DNA fragmentation (by TB staining) has good predictive value in discriminating infertile and fertile men over seminal fluid analysis. Recommendations: TB and AB staining of sperm chromatin can be used in the course of infertility diagnosis. However, more investigations may be needed to confirm the discriminating power of sperm chromatin condensation assays (by AB staining) to be ready to use in the routine workup in the fertility clinics.

The Effect of Intramuscular Administration of Glutathione as Antioxidant on Semen analysis parameters of Infertile Patients Affected with Oligoasthenozoospermia

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of intramuscular administration of Glutathione (100, 200, 300mg/person) daily for 3 months on seminal fluid analysis parameters prepared by simple layering technique andcentrifugation swim up technique in infertile subjects affected with oligoasthenozoospermia. Thirty infertile menenrolled in this study and semen samples were analyzed before and after injection with Glutathione and semenprocessed by standard semen parameters. Furthermore, sperm concentration, sperm motility, progressive sperm motility, sperm agglutination, and normal sperm morphology were evaluated according to standard WHO criteria (2010). For preparation technique, sperm prepared and incubated for 30 minute in 5% CO2 at 37ºC. The results of the present study indicate a highly significant (P&lt;0.001) differences in all sperm functions after injection with Glutathione in all infertile patients and concluded that sperm functions improved and enhanced whenever increase the dose of antioxidants and the simple layering technique gave the best results as compared with centrifugation swim up technique. Further studies are recommended to assess the detrimental effect of CSUT on sperm DNA damage and embryo quality after in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET).

Effect of Obesity on Hormonal Profile and Semen Parameters of Male Partners of Infertile Couples in Kwara State Nigeria

Background : Infertility is a global and a public health concern in many parts of subSaharan Africa and obesity is gradually becoming an epidemic disease that is rapidly spreading among Africans. Male obesity has been associated with increased incidence of low sperm concentration and progressively low motile sperm count. Methods: The study was a multicenter prospective comparative analytical study conducted at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Anchor Medical Centre, Royal Medical Centre, Surulere Medical Centre and Mid-land Fertility Centre all in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria over a period of six months (February to July 2011). Our aim was to identify the effect of male obesity on measures of reproductive potentials among male partners of infertile couples. Serum levels of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estrogen of 42 obese and 42 non obese male partners of infertile couples were assayed in addition to seminal fluid analysis. Results: There was a statistically significant association between obesity, class of obesity with sperm count and sperm motility (All P 0.05). Conclusion: This study has demonstrated an inverse but significant relationship between male obesity and semen parameters (sperm count and motility), serum

Clinical Correlates of a Lateral‐Flow Immunoassay Oral Risk Indicator

The aim of the present study is to investigate the clinical correlates of a novel lateral-flow immunoassay with bleeding on probing (BOP), oral hygiene, and periodontal probing depth. This report offers a simple, rapid, and highly sensitive tool that addresses two issues important to periodontists: 1) detecting active periodontitis, and 2) predicting chronic periodontitis. Seventy-six of 86 males requiring seminal fluid analysis as part of a separate study were serially recruited into the study. After basic dental and periodontal examination under natural light and with the use of the community periodontal index of treatment needs (CPITN) probe, debris and calculus indices were recorded per participant. Participants were subsequently grouped into "good," "fair," and "poor" oral hygiene categories based on a simplified oral hygiene index. BOP was assessed with the ball-ended tip of the probe, and periodontitis was assessed with pocket probing as well as a lateral flow of neutrophil collagenase-2 immunoassay, which measures levels of matrix metalloproteinase-8. Neutrophil collagenase-2 immunoassay was 96% sensitive for poor oral hygiene, 95% sensitive for chronic periodontitis (defined as at least two sites with periodontal pockets), and 82.6% sensitive for at least two sites with BOP. Neutrophil collagenase-2 immunoassay had a high sensitivity for at least two sites with BOP and two sites with periodontal pockets but a lower relationship for single-site pockets and BOP.

Evaluation of Anti-sperm Antibodies and Some Cytokines Profile in Seminal Plasma of Iraqi Infertile Males

This study aimed to investigate the role of seminal plasma anti-sperm antibody (ASA) and cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A and TNF-α) levels in the aetiopathogenesis of male infertility in a sample of Iraqi patients.A group of males with primary infertility attending Kamal Al-Samaraie Hospital, Center of Infertility and in vitro Fertilization (Baghdad) and Baghdad Teaching Hospital (Infertility Clinic) during the period March-August 2010 to October 2010 were enrolled in this study, in addition, 16 fertile males (control). Based on WHO criteria of 2010 for general seminal fluid analysis, the patients were distributed into three groups: azoospermic (AZO), Oligozoospermic (OLI), and asthenozoospermic (24 patients for each group). Anti-sperm antibody (ASAs) and cytokines levels were assessed in seminal plasma fluid by Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbant Assay (ELISA).The mean of seminal plasma ASAs in azoospermia and oligospermia patients, as well as, controls showed no significant difference (38.7, 41.2 and 43.8 U/ml, respectively), but the three means were significantly lower than the mean (55.4 U/ml) of these antibodies in asthenospermia.when patients and control were evaluated in terms of their positivity for ASAs, the highest frequency of positive cases was observed in asthenospermia patients (41.7%) followed by controls (25.5%), azoospermia (20,8%) and finally oligozoospermia (16.7%), but these differences were not significant when each group of infertility was compared with controls.The mean of IL-2, IL-10, and IL-17A levels in seminal plasma showed no significant difference between the four investigated groups, while the levels of three cytokines (IL-4, IL-13 and TNF-α) showed deviations in infertile patients, but such deviation was subjected to the type of investigated cytokine and type of infertility. Interleukin-4 and TNF-α were more significant in oligozoospermia patients, while IL-13 was exceptionally increased in asthenozoospermiapatients, and it seemed that the other investigated cytokines had no effect on azoospermia.

Serum Zinc and Copper Changes in Male Infertility

Objective: The aim of this study to detect the correlation between trace elements such as zinc, copper andspermatogenesis, sperm viability and motility.Methodology: Serum and semen samples were collected from one hundred twenty patients with age ranged (20-50 years) attending the high institute for Embryo Research and Infertility Treatment/ Baghdad University, inaddition to thirty fertile males their age comparable to that of patients. The period of this study was from June2004 until the end of October 2004.Results: The result of routine seminal fluid analysis of all infertile males was divided according to WHO, (1999) limitinto four groups: Asthenospermia(A), Asthenoteratospermia(AT), Oligoasthenoteratospermia OAT andAzoospermia(Azoo), each group includes thirty patient. Results showed highly significant decrease in serum zincconcentration in different infertile groups compared to control group, and a slight increase in serum copperconcentration in different infertile group. With advancing age, all the infertile groups, as well as the control group,had a slight decrease in serum concentration of zinc, and a slight increase in serum copper concentration.Recommendations: Further studies are needed to evaluate the levels of different biochemical parameters inseminal plasma of different infertile groups.

Proteomic analysis of seminal fluid from men exhibiting oxidative stress

BackgroundSeminal plasma serves as a natural reservoir of antioxidants. It helps to remove excessive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and consequently, reduce oxidative stress. Proteomic profiling of seminal plasma proteins is important to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying oxidative stress and sperm dysfunction in infertile men.MethodsThis prospective study consisted of 52 subjects: 32 infertile men and 20 healthy donors. Once semen and oxidative stress parameters were assessed (ROS, antioxidant concentration and DNA damage), the subjects were categorized into ROS positive (ROS+) or ROS negative (ROS-). Seminal plasma from each group was pooled and subjected to proteomics analysis. In-solution digestion and protein identification with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), followed by bioinformatics analyses was used to identify and characterize potential biomarker proteins.ResultsA total of 14 proteins were identified in this analysis with 7 of these common and unique proteins were identified in both the ROS+ and ROS- groups through MASCOT and SEQUEST analyses, respectively. Prolactin-induced protein was found to be more abundantly present in men with increased levels of ROS. Gene ontology annotations showed extracellular distribution of proteins with a major role in antioxidative activity and regulatory processes.ConclusionsWe have identified proteins that help protect against oxidative stress and are uniquely present in the seminal plasma of the ROS- men. Men exhibiting high levels of ROS in their seminal ejaculate are likely to exhibit proteins that are either downregulated or oxidatively modified, and these could potentially contribute to male infertility.

Approach to Male Infertility and Induction of Spermatogenesis

Male subfertility is common, and it causes significant duress to couples. Although the most common cause of male subfertility is idiopathic failure of spermatogenesis, a significant percentage of male subfertility is medically treatable. Compared to reproductive specialists, endocrinologists may see a population of men that have a higher prevalence of treatable causes of subfertility including sexual disorders, endocrinopathies, obesity, drugs, and ejaculatory dysfunction. Seminal fluid analysis is the most important diagnostic study, and at least 2 samples should be analyzed. All patients with sperm concentrations < 10 million/mL due to idiopathic spermatogenic defects should be referred for genetic counseling and karyotyping; most experts also recommend that these patients be tested for Y chromosomal microdeletions. For most men with low sperm concentrations due to gonadotropin deficiency, gonadotropin therapy effectively increases spermatogenesis. The endocrinologist must recognize when to use medical therapy to stimulate spermatogenesis and when to refer for consideration of assisted reproductive technology.

Does Cigarette Smoking Affect Seminal Fluid Parameters? A Comparative Study

To study the effect of cigarette smoking on seminal fluid parameters, namely; volume, sperm concentration, and motility, as well as morphology, leukocyte infiltration, among males complaining of infertility. Between August 2010 and July 2011, seminal fluid analysis was done for 1438 males who are partners of couples who visited the infertility clinic at Prince Rashid Ben Al Hassan Hospital (PRH) for infertility. The men who fit the inclusion criteria (n=960) were classified into two groups: group a (non-smokers; n=564) and group B (smokers; n=396), which represents 41.25% of the study group. Seminal fluid was collected using masturbation after 3-5 days of abstinence then analyzed for volume, sperm count, sperm concentration, motility and morphology. In order to analyze whether the number of cigarettes smoked per day has an effect on the spermatogram; the smoking men were divided into two subgroups: the heavy smokers (n=266) and non-heavy smokers (n=130). A total of 960 adult males were enrolled. Their age ranged between 21 and 76 years, 564 were non-smokers with mean age of 36. 45±6.27 (Mean±SD). Three-hundred-and-ninety-six were smokers with a mean age of 34.35±4.25 (Mean±SD). There was a significant effect of smoking on the motility of sperms and the ratios of abnormality (p<0.005). Concentration appeared not to be affected by smoking. Furthermore, the group of heavy smokers were found to have lower sperm concentrations and a higher percentage of abnormal sperms compared to the non-heavy smokers. Cigarette smoking has a deleterious effect on some of the seminal fluid parameters (motility, morphology and leukocyte count) which in turn may result in male subfertility.

Efficacy of two sperm preparation techniques in reducing non-specific bacterial species from human semen

CONTEXT:Artificial reproductive techniques using seminal preparations with bacteria may cause pelvic inflammatory disease and its sequalae.AIMS:To assess efficacy of two sperm preparation techniques to clear bacteria and the effect of bacteriospermia on sperm recovery rates.SETTINGS AND DESIGN:A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among males of subfertile couples.SUBJECTS AND METHODS:Semen samples were randomly allocated into swim-up method (group S, n = 68) and density gradient method (group D, n = 50) for sperm preparation. Seminal fluid analysis and bacterial cultures were performed in each sample before and after sperm preparation.STATISTICAL ANALYSIS:McNemar's chi-squared test and independent samples t-test in SPSS version 16.0 were used.RESULTS:Organisms were found in 86 (72.88%) out of 118 samples, before sperm preparation; Streptococcus species (n = 40, 46.51% of which 14 were Group D Streptococcus species), Coagulase negative Staphylococcus species (n = 17, 19.76%), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 13, 15.11%), Coliform species (n = 11, 12.79% of which 09 were Escherichia coli) and Corynebacterium species (n = 5, 5.81%). There was a statistically significant reduction of culture positive samples in raw vs. processed samples; in group S, 49 (72.05%) vs. 16 (23.52%) and in group D, 37 (74%) vs. 18 (36%). In group S and D, mean (SD) recovery rates of culture positive vs. culture negative samples were 39.44% (SD-14.02) vs. 44.22% (SD-22.38), P = 0.39 and 52.50% (SD-37.16) vs. 49.58% (SD-40.32), P = 0.82 respectively.CONCLUSIONS:Both sperm preparation methods significantly reduced bacteria in semen, but total clearance was not achieved. Sperm recovery rate was not affected by bacteriospermia.

Prevalence of Antisperm Antibodies in Asthenospermic Infertile Male

Recently there has been a lot of discussion about the role that the immune system plays in infertility. The immune system generally works to protect the body from foreign cells and bacteria. Sometimes though problems within the immune system prevent it from working. Many couples facing infertility issues may actually have immune system dysfunction which is preventing them from conceiving .luckily new. tests are now available to pinpoint these immune factors in infertility properly. prospective study was carried out in the infertility clinic of Azadi teaching hospital in Kirkuk city from January 2007 to January 2009.The study included 155 male with primary or secondary infertility with abnormal seminal fluid analysis specifically decreased motility of the sperms (asthenospermia), their ages ranged from(18-55)years. The entire patients included in the study have been proved to be infertile as they fail to conceive after a year of regular intercourse without contraception. All patients were subjected to a special questionnaire used for analytical purposes; both blood and the seminal fluid samples of all were examined for presence of antisperm antibodies. the study showed that 75 patients (48.4%) out of 155 patients showed a positive antisperm antibody (ASA ) which is statistically significance (P value 0.04), 55 patients (73.3% ) from those with positive results showed ASA in their serum, while 20 patients (26.6%) of them showed ASA in their seminal fluids which showed is also statistically significance (P value 0.03) in conclusion the study shows that an antisperm antibody has an impact on asthenospermia and infertility.

Imprisonment-Associated Sperm Clumping and Male Infertility

This observational, retrospective study investigated infertility among Iraqi men who had been long-term prisoners of war. Routine seminal fluid analyses were undertaken in former prisoners with suspected infertility attending the Ramadi Infertility Clinic, Ramadi, Iraq; semen samples were also microscopically evaluated in these patients. In 16 out of 38 patients (42%), male infertility was found to be associated with the formation of unusually large clumps of sperm. These sperm clumps contained large numbers of sperm; clumping led to sperm immobilization and infertility. The causes of sperm clumping are unclear. It is possible that the sperm clumping observed in the present study might be a result of developmental defects, possibly related to stress or other undiscovered factors, although this requires further investigation.

Randomized Clinical Trial on the Use of PHYSTA Freeze-Dried Water Extract of Eurycoma longifolia for the Improvement of Quality of Life and Sexual Well-Being in Men.

Eurycoma longifolia is reputed as an aphrodisiac and remedy for decreased male libido. A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, parallel group study was carried out to investigate the clinical evidence of E. longifolia in men. The 12-week study in 109 men between 30 and 55 years of age consisted of either treatment of 300 mg of water extract of E. longifolia (Physta) or placebo. Primary endpoints were the Quality of Life investigated by SF-36 questionnaire and Sexual Well-Being investigated by International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Sexual Health Questionnaires (SHQ); Seminal Fluid Analysis (SFA), fat mass and safety profiles. Repeated measures ANOVA analysis was used to compare changes in the endpoints. The E. longifolia (EL) group significantly improved in the domain Physical Functioning of SF-36, from baseline to week 12 compared to placebo (P = 0.006) and in between group at week 12 (P = 0.028). The EL group showed higher scores in the overall Erectile Function domain in IIEF (P < 0.001), sexual libido (14% by week 12), SFA- with sperm motility at 44.4%, and semen volume at 18.2% at the end of treatment. Subjects with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 significantly improved in fat mass lost (P = 0.008). All safety parameters were comparable to placebo.

Semen Abnormality And Nigerian Herbal Remedies: A Preliminary Investigation.

The uses of herbal products are not regulated in Nigeria and in many low-income countries and are freely available to everyone. The safety of these herbal medicines is poorly understood. Commonly used herbal remedies can interfere with reproductive health. This is a prospective study that investigated the possible effects of Nigerian herbal remedies on semen quality involving 218 patients who attended the fertility unit of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Southeastern, Nigeria. Questionnaire was administered by an interviewer and a seminal fluid analysis with respect to motility, concentration, and volume were carried using WHO standard. The result showed that 83.97% of the patients with history of herbal intake had abnornal seminal fluid analsis while only 16.03% of subjects with no history of herbal intake had abnormal result.This gives a clue of the possibility of male infertility from Nigerian herbal remedies.The reproductive health damage from consumption of Nigerian herbal remedies should be identified with indepth risk assessment.

Effect of Lead, Cadmium, and Continuous Exposure to Heat as an Occupation Hazards on Fertility in Male Workers.

In this work, sample of workers who are in contact with heavy metals were selected. Those were distributed as follow car customizers and welders (CW) (25), bakers (20) local power generator operators “operators” (15), and control men who their occupation was far from such contact (20). The study included measurement of testosterone, LH and FSH as fertility hormones, measurement of lead and cadmium (Cd) as heavy metals, and exposure to heat during the working day. Results showed that fertility hormones were within the control levels in all subjects; only a significant increase (p≤0.05) was recorded in LH in (CW) compared with control. Seminal fluid analysis (SFA), showed a decrease in total sperm count in all samples when compared with control. No significant raise was found in heavy metals in bakers, while a significant elevation of both types of heavy metals were recorded in blood of (CW) and (operators). It is concluded that occupation might result in elevating levels of heavy metals in welders and car customizers, and local power generator operators.