Lower Sperm Concentration Research Articles

Impact of smoking and alcohol intake in semen profile among infertile men

In the modern stressful lifestyle, habits such as smoking and drinking alcohol are reported to increase the likelihood of fertility issues in adults who are of reproductive age. Moreover, there has been rapid rise in male infertility and 50% of the infertility cases are related to male partners. In this context, here we investigated whether smoking and drinking alcohol have an effect on the semen profile of infertile male patients in terms of seminal oxidative stress and male accessory gland function. A total of 327 men with infertility issue were grouped into four categories according to their smoking and drinking habits viz. smokers, moderate drinkers, heavy drinkers, and abstainers. The participants were investigated for clinical, semen, oxidative stress parameters, and male accessory gland function. The mean of sperm with normal morphology and the level of NOS scavenging activity decreased in smokers compared to abstainers. Heavy drinkers were found to have the lowest normal morphological sperms in comparison to moderate drinkers and abstainers. Interestingly, moderate drinkers showed lower mean sperm concentration, progressively motile sperm, and NOS scavenging activity. The level of seminal citric acid and semen volume had a substantial positive association, according to Pearson’s correlation analysis. The above findings suggest that smoking and excessive drinking lowers sperm with normal morphology, while moderate drinking reduces sperm concentration and progressively motile sperm. Therefore, it will be a better strategy for the infertile couples to modify few life style habits to improve their fertility.

Effects of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection on semen quality and sperm morphology.

Ureaplasma urealyticum (U. urealyticum) infection is primarily associated with damage to male fertility through its effects on male sperm parameters. However, its effects on sperm semiological variables remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether U. urealyticum infection was associated with semen quality and sperm morphology. From 2019 to 2021, this cross-sectional study analyzed infective pathogens and semen variables in 1064 males (22-30 years old) recruited from our reproductive center and the general public. Routine semen parameters and normal sperm morphology rate were analyzed using methods outlined by the World Health Organization. The associations between semen quality, sperm morphology, and U. urealyticum infection were studied using general linear models. The participants were categorized into three groups: (i) U. urealyticum infection (n=328), (ii) non-U. urealyticum infection (including males with urogenital tract infection symptoms but no U. urealyticum detected in their semen samples, n=377), and (iii) normal volunteers (males without symptoms of urogenital tract infection and no pathogens detected in semen samples, n=359). U. urealyticum in semen samples was observed to be associated with lower sperm concentrations (p<0.001) and a lower ratio of anterograde motile spermatozoa (p<0.001). Semen cultures positive for U. urealyticum were associated with lower normal sperm morphology (p<0.001) compared to semen cultures negative for U. urealyticum. This study shows the importance of proper investigations for U. urealyticum during routine clinical examinations and diagnoses of males with infertility.

Best Washing Method for Oligoasthenospermic Patients by Evaluating DNA Integrity by Using a Sperm Chromatin Dispersion Test

Background: Growing evidence points to sperm DNA fragmentation (DF) as a significant contributor to infertility. One of the most popular techniques to identify sperm DF is the Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test (SCDT), a new assay in semen. The SCDT is based on the idea that after acid denaturation and removal of nuclear proteins, sperm with fragmented DNA are unable to create the distinctive halo of dispersed DNA loops seen in sperm with non-fragmented DNA. As Oligoasthenospermic patients have low sperm concentration, these patients are infertile and opt for fertility treatments for getting a child. There are many steps in the processing of sperm during Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), and one of the main steps is Sperm Washing. Aim &amp; Objective: The main aim of this research is to determine the best sperm-washing method for Oligoasthenospermic patients by evaluating DNA integrity (DI) by using SCDT. Study Setting: Semen samples were obtained from 40 Oligoasthenospermic patients with progressive motility

Sperm concentrations do not correlate with semen parameters and hormone profiles in males recovered from COVID-19.

Although the negative impact on fertility of men recovered from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been suggested, there is insufficient evidence, and the data are limited and contradictory. The present prospective study aimed to evaluate the sex-related hormones, semen parameters, erectile dysfunction (ED), and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in a cohort of men who recovered from COVID-19 and age-matched control men. Semen samples were collected from twenty-two men recovered from COVID-19 with a median time of 91.5 days and thirty-six control males. The semen parameters were evaluated according to the World Health Organization (WHO) laboratory manual to examine and process human semen. The blood samples were collected to assess the male hormone profile. ED and LUTS were evaluated with the International Index of Erectile Function 5 (IIEF-5) and the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), respectively. The follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) (3.819±1.515 IU/L), luteinizing hormone (LH) (4.023±1.792 IU/L), prolactin (PRL) [12.60 (10.72-15.20) ng/mL], and testosterone (T) [4.345 (3.565-5.525) ng/mL] levels were at normal range in all males enrolled in the study. Levels of semen volume (control: 2.5 mL vs. COVID-19: 1.9 mL; P<0.05) and sperm concentration (control: 59×106/mL vs. COVID-19: 41.5×106/mL; P<0.005) were significantly lower in males recovered from COVID-19, but still technically well within normal regardless of WHO edition. All variables were examined through logistic regression analysis, demonstrating that only sperm concentration was an independent variable associated with men recovered from COVID-19 [odds ratio (OR) =1; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.999-1.098; P=0.016]. According to correlation analysis, there was no correlation between sperm concentration and other semen parameters and sex-related hormone profiles. Furthermore, an absence of ED and LUTS in men who recovered from COVID-19 was evidenced using the IIEF-5 and IPSS, respectively. Reproductive-age males recovered from COVID-19 have normal sperm concentration. Sperm concentration did not correlate with other semen parameters, sex-related hormones, IIEF-5, and IPSS. Further studies should be performed to evaluate whether the lower sperm concentration and semen volume that were still within the normal range are a transient or prolonged downregulation resulting from the COVID-19 attack.

Trade-off between thermal preference and sperm maturation in a montane lizard

Temperature is a key abiotic factor that influences performance of several physiological traits in ectotherms. Organisms regulate their body temperature within a range of temperatures to enhance physiological function. The capacity of ectotherms, such as lizards, to maintain their body temperature within their preferred range influences physiological traits such as speed, various reproductive patterns, and critical fitness components, such as growth rates or survival. Here, we evaluate the influence of temperature on locomotor performance, sperm morphology and viability in a high elevation lizard species (Sceloporus aeneus). Whereas maximal values for sprint speed coincides with field active and preferred body temperature, short-term exposure at the same range of temperatures produces abnormalities in sperm morphology, lower sperm concentration and diminishes sperm motility and viability. In conclusion, we confirmed that although locomotor performance is maximized at preferred temperatures, there is a trade-off with male reproductive attributes, which may cause infertility. As a consequence, prolonged exposure to preferred temperatures could threaten the persistence of the species through reduced fertility. Persistence of the species is favored in environments with access to cooler, thermal microhabitats that enhance reproductive parameters.

Influence of Semen Collection Frequency and Seasonal Variations on Fresh and Frozen Semen Quality in Thai Native Roosters

This study aimed to determine the effects of the frequency of semen collection (once, twice, and thrice weekly) and seasonal variations on the fresh and frozen semen quality of Thai native roosters throughout the year. Data on temperature and humidity were collected and used to calculate the temperature-humidity index (THI). The average temperature and THI were lower in the winter than in the rainy season and the summer (p < 0.05). In contrast, the average relative humidity was not different among the seasons but was higher in the rainy season (p > 0.05). None of the fresh or frozen semen quality parameters were influenced by the frequency of semen collection, but the season did have an effect. The highest sperm concentration was obtained in the winter (p < 0.05). In contrast, the lowest sperm concentration was found during the rainy season, which presented the highest humidity. Regarding the frozen semen quality, the highest malondialdehyde concentration and the lowest motility were found in the summer (p < 0.05). In conclusion, semen collection can be conducted thrice per week for a consecutive year without affecting semen quality while maximizing sperm production. However, the highest sperm production was obtained in the winter, which is also a suitable season for producing semen for cryopreservation.

Correlation study of male semen parameters and embryo aneuploidy in preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of abnormal semen parameters on embryo aneuploidy based on single nucleotide polymorphism microarray (SNP array). A total of 464 blastocysts from 103 PGT-A cycles were analyzed. The embryo quality and embryo aneuploidy rates were compared between different groups which divided by male semen parameters (sperm concentration, motility, morphology, and DFI) according the WHO criteria (2021). The total blastocysts chromosome aneuploidy rate was 42.3% (191/452). In the teratozoospermia group, the good-quality embryo and blastocyst formation rate were lower than the normal group(44.4% vs 60.7%, P <0.01; 33.3% vs 43.5%, P<0.05), The good-quality embryo rate in normal DFI group was significantly higher than high-DFI group (59.0% vs 48.4%, P < 0.05). The blastocyst aneuploidy rate in low sperm concentration group, and high DFI group was no differences between with that in normal sperm concentration and DFI group (47.7% vs 37.8% and 44.7% vs 37.8%, P>0.05). The aneuploid rate of blastocyst in teratozoospermic and asthenozoospermia group was significantly higher than that of normal morphology and motility group (50.0% vs 34.0% and 46.7% vs 33.7%, P<0.05). Our study revealed that sperm DFI were positively correlated with blastocyst aneuploidy rate, while sperm motility and sperm morphology rate were negatively correlated with blastocyst aneuploidy rate. Abnormal semen parameters may affect embryo quality and increase the aneuploidy rate of blastocyst chromosomes, suggesting that in clinical practice of assisted reproduction patients with abnormal semen parameters can be treated in advance to improve sperm quality, so as to reduce the impact on embryo quality and achieve a better pregnancy outcome.

Effects of phytoestrogens combined with cold stress on sperm parameters and testicular proteomics in rats.

Phytoestrogens and cold negatively influence male fertility. However, the combined effects of these two factors on male reproduction remain unknown. Herein, we studied the changes of sperm parameters and identify potential biomarkers involved in testis of rats, which were intervened by phytoestrogens combined with cold stress. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control and model groups. The rats in the model group were fed an estrogen diet and placed in a climate chamber [10 ± 2°C; humidity of 75 ± 5%] for 12 h/daily. When compared with the control group after 24 weeks, the rats in the model group showed increased food intake, urine and stool outputs, and higher estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone levels. However, lower sperm concentration, motility, and viability, and reduced testosterone levels were detected. The epithelial cells of the seminiferous tubules and epididymal ducts presented morphological abnormalities. Proteomic analysis showed that 24 testicular proteins were upregulated and 15 were downregulated. The identified proteins were involved in reticulophagy and stress response. Our findings suggest that the phytoestrogens combined with cold stress had negative effects on the reproductive function of male rats and provide the basis for the establishment of "course simulation" type of oligospermia animal model.

Self-Reported Asthma Is Associated with Reduced Sperm Count-A Cross-Sectional Study of More than 6000 Young Men from the General Population.

Asthma is driven by an inflammatory response that may impact testicular function. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association between self-reported asthma and testicular function (semen parameters, reproductive hormone levels), and determined whether potential further inflammation due to self-reported allergy modified this association. A total of 6177 men from the general population completed a questionnaire including information on doctor-diagnosed asthma or allergy, had a physical examination, delivered a semen sample, and had a blood sample drawn. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed. A total of 656 (10.6%) men reported having ever been diagnosed with asthma. Generally, self-reported asthma was consistently associated with a poorer testicular function; however, few estimates were statistically significant. Specifically, self-reported asthma was associated with statistically significant lower total sperm count [median: 133 vs. 145 million; adjusted β (95% CI): -0.18 (-0.33 to -0.04) million on cubic-root-transformed scale] and borderline statistically significant lower sperm concentration compared with no self-reported asthma. The association between asthma and total sperm count was of similar magnitude among men with and without allergy. In conclusion, men with self-reported asthma had poorer testicular function than men without asthma. However, the cross-sectional design of the study limits ascertainment of causality.

Association of BMI with Semen Parameters in the Male Partners of Infertile Couples: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: In today’s scenario, obesity is increasing in children and young adolescents, and they are more likely to continue as obese adults. Temporal trends indicate that obesity is increasing while fertility is decreasing. Studies worldwide have reported a negative association between obesity and male fertility, but studies from India are scarce. Hence, there is a need to study the extent of the association between obesity and infertility. Aim: To evaluate the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and semen parameters in the male partners of infertile couples. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Government Medical College Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, from August 2021 to August 2022. On total of 66 participants divided into two groups: Group A consisted of overweight and obese participants (BMI ≥23.0 kg/m2 ), and Group B consisted of participants with normal BMI (BMI &lt;23 kg/m2 ). The semen parameters studied were semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, total motility, and progressive motility. Semen samples were analysed according to the WHO 2010 guidelines. Continuous variables were expressed as mean±standard deviation. Unpaired t-test was used to compare the groups. Results: The mean age in Group A and Group B was 30.18±4.5 and 28.27±4.35 years, respectively (p&lt;0.08). The mean BMI in Group A and Group B was 27.01±2.94 kg/m2 and 20.29±1.69 kg/m2 , respectively (p&lt;0.0001). The mean sperm concentration in Group A was 37.01±42.6 million, and in Group B, it was 90.24±56.11 million (p&lt;0.0001). Total motility in Group A was 27.8±31.36%, and in Group B, it was 57.9±28.41% (p&lt;0.0001). Progressive motility in Group A was 18.75±24.79%, and in Group B, it was 42.63±26.15% (p&lt;0.0003). Conclusion: In the present study, high BMI (obesity and overweight) was significantly associated with low sperm concentration, count, and motility

The effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on in vitro fertilization outcomes of unexplained infertility

BackgroundInfertility is caused by heterogeneous risks, but most of them are unexplained. The sperm DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) was increasingly acknowledged as a parameter for the evaluation of male infertility. This study aimed to investigate the association between sperm DFI and laboratory and clinical outcomes in a population with unexplained infertility. MethodsThe clinical data of an infertile population was collected for the selection of reproductive patients with unexplained infertility. The authors classified the patients with normal sperm parameters in a control group (DFI < 25%) and an observation group (DFI ≥ 25%) and compared the difference in basal characteristics, laboratory, and clinical outcomes between the two groups. The authors conducted a correlation analysis to examine the relationship between DFI and the number of D3 good-quality embryos, as well as the clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate. A total of 176 cases were enrolled in the retrospective study. ResultsThe observation group (n = 88) showed advanced male age, lower sperm concentration, progressive motility, and morphology assessment than the control group. In addition, lower No. of D3 good-quality embryos, clinical pregnancy rate, and the live birth rate were shown in the observation group. A negative correlation between the DFI and No. of D3 good-quality embryos (rs = -0.347, p < 0.001) or live birth rate (rs = -0.185, p = 0.028) was shown. ConclusionsSperm DFI was a good indicator for the prediction of D3 good-quality embryos in unexplained infertility couples, but it did not provide sufficient information regarding clinical pregnancy outcome but live pregnancy outcome.

Geographic Differences in Semen Quality among a Cohort of American Men Using Mail-in Sperm Testing Kits.

To evaluate the relationship between regional geography and sperm parameters in a cohort of American men using at-home mail-in semen collection kits with no previous self-reported history of male factor infertility. In this study, 5,822 men from six different regions of the United States (Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, West, Pacific, and Southwest) who self-requested semen analysis between 2019 and 2021 were enrolled. Across the entire cohort, the mean sperm concentration was 43.79±55.43 ×106 sperm/mL; total sperm count 138.93±149.96 ×106 sperm/mL; total motile sperm 54.73±81.90 ×106/ejaculate; total motility 30.18%±22.87%; progressive motility 21.61%±17.32%; sperm with normal morphology 8.79%±8.87%. Patients from the West region displayed lower median sperm concentration, total motile sperm, and total motility than men from the other four regional areas. A lower median total sperm count, and lower median progressive motility were also detected among patients in the Southwest region. Conversely, higher results were detected in patients from the Midwest (higher median total motile sperm, total and motility) and from the Northeast (higher median sperm concentration and total sperm count) regions. Men from the Southeast (OR, 1.3168; 95% CI, 1.1142-1.5563) and Southwest (OR, 1.3145; 95% CI, 1.0735-1.6096) regions were more likely to have oligozoospermia than those living elsewhere. This study provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date report on semen parameter variability among a cohort of men living in six different regions of the continental USA. This study will pave the way into a deeper discussion of the interplay between geography, social determinants of fertility care and semen quality.

Male reproductive system of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium brasiliense (Decapoda: Palaemonidae): Notes on spermatophore formation and sperm count

Studies on the morphology of the reproductive system are essential for understanding the reproduction processes of species or even within genera or families. The present study aimed to describe the functional morphology of the male reproductive system, spermatophore formation, and sperm count of Macrobrachium brasiliense. The anatomy of the reproductive system consists of a pair of testes from which the vasa deferentia (VD) starts, extending to the fifth pair of pereopods. The VD is divided into three regions: proximal (PVD), middle (MVD), and distal (DVD). In the PVD, there is a prominent fold, the typhlosole, formed by columnar cells. The typhlosole disappears in the MVD, being incorporated into one of the faces of the VD wall, identified by its simple columnar epithelium while the remainder of the vessel wall is formed by squamous or simple cubic epithelium. Columnar cells produce type-II and III secretion. The epithelium in the DVD is made up only of cubic cells. Low sperm concentration was observed when compared to other species of the genus Macrobrachium. In conclusion, the typhlosole and columnar epithelium are responsible for the asymmetric spermatophore, which seems the pattern of Macrobrachium that is probably shared with other caridean shrimps.

A retrospective study on sperm cryopreservation in 1034 patients diagnosed with cancer in southern China.

Sperm cryopreservation is an effective fertility preservation method for cancer patients before anticancer treatments. However, there are little data on fertility preservation in large cohorts of patients with cancer in southern China. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to assess the fertility preservation status of 1034 newly diagnosed male patients with cancer in the Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province in southern China (Guangzhou, China). Of these, 302 patients had reproductive system tumors, mostly testicular cancers (99.0%), and 732 had other tumors, including lymphoma (33.1%), gastrointestinal cancer (16.3%), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (15.7%), leukemia (7.7%), sarcoma (3.6%), and others (23.6%). Patients with reproductive system tumors had lower sperm concentration and prefreezing and post-thawing progressive motility than those with non-reproductive system tumors (all P < 0.001). Differences in sperm concentration, progressive motility, and normal morphology rate were observed between patients with and without anticancer surgery before sperm cryopreservation (all P < 0.05). As of April 30, 2022, 63 patients used their cryopreserved sperm for assisted reproductive technology treatments and 39 pregnancies were achieved. This study provides valuable data on the fertility preservation status in newly diagnosed cancer patients in southern China, demonstrating that patients with reproductive system tumors had poor sperm quality for their pretreatment fertility preservation.

Association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms in ARID4A gene and sperm quality of Chinese water buffalo

ARID4A (AT-rich interaction domain 4A) is closely related to animal sperm quality traits. In the present study, the association between ARID4A gene polymorphisms of Chinese water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) with sperm quality traits was examined, including ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, post-thaw sperm motility, and sperm abnormality of buffalo semen. Seven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ARID4A gene were detected in 156 Chinese water buffaloes by Sanger sequencing and identifying overlap peaks. Among the SNPs, six were associated with at least one sperm quality trait. In brief, g.21192G&gt;C, g.21285C&gt;G, and g.21364A&gt;G could be used as potential markers for selecting semen with low sperm abnormality, high ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, and sperm motility. Furthermore, 10 haplotypes (H1: -CTCGG, H2: GTGGCA, H3: GCGGCA, H4: GCTGCA, H5: GCTCGA, H6: GTGGGG, H7: GCTCCG, H8: -CGGGA, H9: GCGGCG, and H10: GTTGCA) were formed by the six SNPs through linkage disequilibrium analysis, and then 14 different combined haplotypes were collected. Correlation analysis showed that the combined H1H2 haplotype had the highest genotype frequency. Notably, the combined H1H2 haplotype had low sperm concentration, low sperm motility, and high sperm abnormality. The combined H2H3 haplotype could be used as a potential molecular marker for selecting semen with high sperm motility. In general, we illustrated a significant correlation between SNPs in ARID4A and sperm quality traits of Chinese water buffalo, which may be useful in the marker-assisted selection of buffalo breeding. This study was the first to analyze the genetic polymorphisms of ARID4A and association with sperm qualities of Chinese buffalo.

An Investigation of Equine Sperm Quality Following Cryopreservation at Low Sperm Concentration and Repeated Freeze-Thawing

Stallion spermatozoa are typically cryopreserved at 200 to 300 million sperm/ml; however recent advances such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) requires only one spermatozoon, wasting many, after thawing a whole straw. Cryopreserving at concentrations less than the current standard or refreezing thawed spermatozoa could maximize the use of genetically valuable animals and reduce waste. This investigation aimed to identify if lowering the sperm concentration for cryopreservation affected post-thaw quality after one and two freeze-thaw cycles. Nine ejaculates were collected from three fertile, “good freezer” stallions (post-thaw motility ≥35%) for experiment 1. Each ejaculate was split into eight treatments: five, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 300, 400 million sperm/ml and cryopreserved. Post-thaw: motility, viability, acrosome integrity and oxidative stress were assessed. Experiment 2, straws from experiment 1 (300 million sperm/ml) were thawed, diluted to 20 million sperm/ml or left undiluted (control) and refrozen. Post-thaw motility and viability were assessed. In experiment 1 sperm concentration did not affect post-thaw total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM) or viability at 50 to 400 million sperm/ml (P > .05). Whilst sperm concentrations of five to 20 million/ml did differ (post-thaw TM and PM). Both refreezing and reducing spermatozoa concentration, decreased TM, PM and viability (P < .05) after two freeze-thaw cycles. These results suggest cryopreserving at sperm concentrations as low as 50 million/ml maintains spermatozoa quality in good freezer stallions. Spermatozoa maintained some motility and viability when initially cryopreserved at 20 million sperm/ml and after two freeze-thaw cycles but research should investigate more optimal conditions.

Diet and its association with reduced semen quality

Introduction: Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive a child for at least 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse and may affect up to 15% of couples of reproductive age. Reduced semen quality may be caused by trauma, inflammation, or an inappropriate lifestyle. Research suggests that diet may be a factor in influencing sperm parameters.Material and methods: The literature of the PubMed scientific base was searched in 2015-2022 using the following keywords: semen, diet, infertility.Results: Analyzes of eating patterns showed that eating a diet high in red meat, high-fat dairy, sweet energy drinks, and snacks could negatively affect semen, and a pattern based on the consumption of fish, chicken, vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains was associated with with an increased concentration of sperm. A high-fat diet (HFD) leads to obesity, endocrine disorders, dysbiosis of the intestinal microflora, and may be a factor that activates autophagy, which results in reduced sperm quality. A ketogenic diet can positively affect the semen of obese, infertile men. Studies analyzing the Mediterranean diet suggest that higher compliance rates are associated with a higher percentage of mobility as well as a reduced risk of low sperm concentration. The way you prepare your meals can also play a role as glycation end products are produced when grilling, baking and frying, which can damage sperm DNA.Conclusions: Diet may be an important factor influencing the quality of sperm in men, however, there is a need for further extensive, multi-center studies that will systematize this knowledge, which will enable the creation of specific nutritional recommendations for this group of people.

The efficacy of novel centrifugation-free sperm selection (Io-Lix) on sperm parameters and ICSI reproductive outcomes

Research questionWhat is the effect of a novel non-centrifugation method (Io-Lix) of sperm selection on sperm parameters and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) reproductive outcomes? DesignThis pilot study elevated the capacity of the Io-Lix sperm selection protocol to improve sperm parameters (concentration, motility and sperm DNA fragmentation) of the neat ejaculate. Once established, the reproductive outcomes of Io-Lix selected spermatozoa were used for autologous and donor oocyte ICSI programmes and their efficacy compared with those using conventional swim-up. ResultsIo-Lix sperm selection resulted in lower sperm concentration yield (P < 0.001) and sperm DNA fragmentation (P < 0.001) but higher sperm motility (P < 0.001) when compared with spermatozoa in the neat ejaculate. When compared with swim-up sperm selection the Io-Lix protocol resulted in a 14.7% (P = 0.028) increase in pregnancy rate and 16.3% (P = 0.047) reduction in miscarriages in the autologous ICSI programme. A similar comparison of sperm selection procedures employed for a donor oocyte ICSI programme showed no difference in terms of their respective reproductive outcomes. ConclusionsThe Io-Lix sperm selection protocol resulted in improved pregnancy rate and reduction in miscarriage when applied to autologous ICSI, which was attributed to a reduction in the proportion of spermatozoa with DNA damage post-selection. A similar finding was not apparent in the donor oocyte programme, which may be associated with the capacity of the donor oocyte to repair sperm DNA post-syngamy.

An evaluation of the population characteristics, semen quality, and utilization status of autologous sperm cryopreservation and fertility preservation in for 662 patients: a 6-year monocentric retrospective study

BackgroundSperm cryopreservation is an effective method of fertility preservation for disease-related and social sperm freezing. In total, 662 subjects (range: 15–65 years-of-age; mean: 33.49 ± 8.79 years-of-age) were included in this study to investigate the population characteristics, semen quality, and usage of autologous sperm preservation patients in Beijing. Of these, 351 were cancer patients (53.02%, 31.14 ± 7.32 years-of-age) and 311 were non-cancer patients (46.98%, 36.14 ± 9.54 years-of-age).ResultsWe found that the number of preservation cases increased steadily from 2015 to 2019; 89.73% of these had a bachelor's degree or above; 54.83%, 41.54%, and 3.63% were single, married, and divorced, respectively. The cases of cancers and oligozoospermia accounted for 71.30% of all patients; therefore, most patients required fertility preservation due to disease. The cancer group had a significantly lower sperm concentration, rate of progressive sperm after the frozen-thawed test, total progressive motility sperm count after the frozen-thawed test, and recovery rate of progressive motile sperm (RRPM) than the non-cancer group (all P < 0.05). Sperm count-related parameters were significantly affected by testicular cancer, while sperm motility-related parameters and RRPM were significantly affected by leukemia. The utilization rate of preserved sperm was 6.34% after 6 to 78 months of follow-up. In terms of fresh or frozen embryo transfer, the clinical pregnancy rate was 56.76% or 50.00%, and the live birth rate was 24.32% or 21.43%, respectively.ConclusionThe need for autologous sperm preservation was dominated by patients with diseases, followed by the need for social sperm freezing. Tumors had a major negative impact on semen quality, and the usage rates of stored semen were at lower level compared to the number of sperm cryopreservation. Medical staff and patients should pay attention to both cognition-action consistency and cost-effectiveness in fertility preservation.

High serum alpha-fetoprotein levels in primary infertile men.

Alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) is a serum glycoprotein highly produced during fetal development. While AFP synthesis drops dramatically after birth, AFP production only persists or returns under specific pathological condition. We sought to investigate the rate of and the potential meaning of high AFP serum levels in men seeking first medical attention for couple's primary infertility. Socio-demographic and clinical data from 1803 non-Finnish, White-European primary infertile men were retrospectively analysed. AFP was routinely measured in each patient (high AFP was defined as>7ng/ml). Men with history of liver diseases, testicular cancer, or other known causes of increased AFP levels were excluded from the final analysis. Semen analyses were based on the 2010 World Health Organization reference criteria. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models tested the association between serum AFP and clinical variables. Possible nonlinear relationships were graphically explored with locally estimated scatterplot smoothing method. Overall, high serum AFP level was found in 29 (1.7%) patients. Normal versus high AFP levels patients were comparable in terms of body mass index (BMI), Charlson Comorbidity Index, waist circumference, smoking habits, history of cryptorchidism, testicular volume, and serum hormones (i.e., follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and total testosterone). Conversely, men with higher AFP levels were older (p=0.02), had lower sperm concentration (p=0.003), and were more frequently oligozoospermic and azoospermic (all p≤0.03). At multivariate analysis, high AFP levels were independently associated with oligozoospermia (OR 3.79; p=0.033) and azoospermia (OR 3.29; p=0.006). Likewise, if AFP levels increase, patients were found to be older, with higher BMI and to have more comorbidities (all p<0.05). Unexplained high AFP levels account for almost 2% of cases in primary infertile patients without a previous history of associated disorders. Higher serum AFP levels are linked with aberrant sperm counts, older age, obesity, and a greater amount of comorbid conditions. Despite the need for additional validation, these data suggest that serum AFP measurement might have a multifaceted role over the diagnostic work-up of males presenting for couple's infertility.