Semen Parameters Research Articles

Effects of short-term oral letrozole on fresh semen parameters, endocrine balance, and prostate gland dimensions in domestic dogs

BackgroundAromatase inhibitors improve male fertility by modifying the hormonal control of spermatogenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of oral administration of letrozole on testosterone and estradiol concentrations and their ratios in blood serum, seminal plasma, prostatic fluid, sperm quality in fresh semen, and prostate gland dimensions. Seven adult male intact mixed-breed dogs were selected. The animals received letrozole (72 µg/kg, PO) daily for four weeks. Blood samplings and semen collections were carried out on days 0 (control), 14 (treatment), 28 (treatment), and 42 (post-treatment).ResultsOur results showed that letrozole administration resulted in a 4.3 fold significant increase in serum, seminal plasma, and prostatic fluid testosterone levels after 14 days. This remained high until the end of the study. Serum and prostatic fluid estradiol levels did not change significantly over the study period. However, the seminal plasma estradiol level showed a significant increase on day 14. The estradiol: testosterone ratio was significantly reduced on day 14 in serum, seminal plasma, and prostatic fluid samples. Letrozole significantly improved the ejaculated spermatozoa viability and concentration after 28 days of oral administration. However, the sperm plasma membrane functional integrity and kinematic parameters were not significantly affected by the treatment. Transabdominal ultrasound examination revealed a significant increase in the height, width, and volume of the prostate gland after 28 days of treatment.ConclusionsAccording to the present research, oral administration of letrozole for 28 days affects local and systemic sex hormone balance leading to an improvement of the ejaculated canine spermatozoa viability and concentration concurrent with an increase in the prostate gland dimensions.

Impact of human papillomavirus and coinfection with other sexually transmitted pathogens on male infertility.

This study primarily aimed to investigate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and other common pathogens of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in spermatozoa of infertile men and their effects on semen parameters. These pathogens included Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, herpes simplex virus 2, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. A total of 1951 men of infertile couples were recruited between 23 March 2023, and 17 May 2023, at the Department of Reproductive Medicine of The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province (Kunming, China). Multiplex polymerase chain reaction and capillary electrophoresis were used for HPV genotyping. Polymerase chain reaction and electrophoresis were also used to detect the presence of other STIs. The overall prevalence of HPV infection was 12.4%. The top five prevalent HPV subtypes were types 56, 52, 43, 16, and 53 among those tested positive for HPV. Other common infections with high prevalence rates were Ureaplasma urealyticum (28.3%), Ureaplasma parvum (20.4%), and Enterococcus faecalis (9.5%). The prevalence rates of HPV coinfection with Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma genitalium, herpes simplex virus 2, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Staphylococcus aureus were 24.8%, 25.4%, 10.6%, 6.4%, 2.4%, 7.9%, 5.9%, 0.9%, and 1.3%, respectively. The semen volume and total sperm count were greatly decreased by HPV infection alone. Coinfection with HPV and Ureaplasma urealyticum significantly reduced sperm motility and viability. Our study shows that coinfection with STIs is highly prevalent in the semen of infertile men and that coinfection with pathogens can seriously affect semen parameters, emphasizing the necessity of semen screening for STIs.

Does age matter? Impact of age on testicular function and pregnancy outcomes following microsurgical varicocelectomy in patients with grade 3 varicocele

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the effects of age on semen and hormonal parameters following microsurgical varicocelectomy among patients with grade 3 varicocele, and to compare fertility outcomes between younger (<40 years) and older (≥40 years) men. Methods Retrospective cohort study of infertile patients with clinical left grade 3 varicocele who underwent microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy (MV). Patients meeting the inclusion criteria (N = 550) were divided into two groups based on their age at the time of MV: <40 (n = 441) and ≥40 years (n = 109). Preoperative semen analysis and hormonal profiles were collected, and follow-up data including pregnancy outcomes were gathered at 3 and 6 months post-surgery. Results Post-surgery, the younger group showed significant improvements in sperm count and total motility (p < 0.001 for each) as well as progressive motility (p = 0.005), while older men exhibited a significant increase in progressive motility (p = 0.002). For each group, there were no significant changes in hormonal levels post-surgery. Comparative analysis across the two age groups showed no significant differences in the postoperative extent of semen improvements or pregnancy. Conclusion MV is a viable option for older infertile patients as it is for younger infertile men with grade 3 varicocele, and both groups can achieve similarly high rates of pregnancy outcomes.

Enhancing canine semen quality through a second centrifugation after 48 hours of storage: a comparative study

BackgroundCentrifugation is a common procedure to improve the quality of chilled and frozen canine semen by removing debris and seminal plasma and adding semen extenders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and influence of a second centrifugation after 48 h of storage at 5 °C on the sperm quality of canine semen. The ejaculates of 45 healthy male dogs, divided into three groups according to body weight, were analyzed for macro- and microparameters such as ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, kinematic parameters, morphology, and integrity of plasma membrane. Samples were analyzed at baseline conditions (T0), after 24 h (T24) and after 48 h (T48) to assess the effects of the different treatments on sperm quality.ResultsThe results showed a significant effect of a second centrifugation on the improvement of chilled sperm quality compared to the other techniques, especially up to 48 h.ConclusionsAnalysis of the data showed that the semen samples centrifuged and then cooled at 5 °C had acceptable semen parameters, especially in terms of motility, with a gradual decrease in serial evaluations after 24 and 48 h. A second centrifugation after 48 h of storage may lead to better semen quality and improve the kinetics of sperm parameters, the percentage of morphologically normal sperm and the percentage of sperm with intact membranes.

Evaluation of daily supplementation of fertitonex on different semen parameters in idiopathic male infertility: a randomized double blind placebo controlled cross over study.

The study aimed to evaluate the effect of fertitonex containing L-carnitine L-tartrate together with other micronutrients on different semen parameters in idiopathic male infertility as well as male reproductive hormones. 100 randomized infertile patients were recruited from July 2023 to February 2024. They were randomized into two groups. Group (A) received fertitonex twice daily for the first 3months. Group (B) received placebo twice daily for the first 3months. Crossover was done after 1month wash-out period for additional 3months. Group (A) who started fertitonex first showed significant improvement in sperms concentration and motility and progressive motility as well as significant reduction in abnormal forms after 3months from beginning the study (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Interestingly, these improvements continued for additional 3months after placebo intake (p < 0.001, p 0.005, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). Group (B) who started placebo first showed significant improvement in sperms concentration and motility and progressive motility as well as significant reduction in abnormal forms after 6months from beginning the study (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). LH level was significantly higher among group (A) compared to group (B) at baseline and 3months and 6months (p value 0.02, 0.032. 0.024, respectively). We finally concluded that fertitonex is an effective, tolerable and safe drug that can be used for treating idiopathic male infertility.

Intraindividual variability of semen quality, proteome, and sncRNA profiles in a healthy cohort of young adults.

Within-subject variability of semen parameters and molecular components of ejaculates in young men remains poorly understood. To investigate intraindividual variability (IIV) of semen parameters and molecular markers in repeated ejaculates from young men. Semen parameters were assessed in samples collected 6-8 days apart from 164 18-19-year old participants of the Russian Children's Study, a prospective cohort. Subsets of paired samples were used for label-free quantitation and targeted mass-spectrometry of proteins in seminal plasma (SP) and seminal extracellular vesicles (EVs), and for small non-coding RNA (sncRNA) profiling in EVs and spermatozoa using RNA-seq. The mean difference between two ejaculates, within-subject variation, intraclass correlation, and concordance correlation were used to assess IIV for all parameters. Low variability with high reproducibility and high reliability was considered if CVw<15% and ICC>0.90, respectively. Analytical variability was low for all investigated parameters in technical replicates. IIV was assessed for basic semen parameters and proteins in SPs and EVs: 319 and 777 proteins, respectively, using untargeted analysis; 9 and 10 proteins using targeted quantification. We also described the IIV for sncRNA, including microRNA, piwi-interacting RNA, tRNA, and tRNA-derived small RNA (tsRNA) in EVs (409 sncRNA and 78 tsRNA) and in spermatozoa (265 sncRNA and 15 tsRNA). We identified 22 and 27 non-overlapping proteins in SP and EVs, respectively, and 46 and 9 sncRNA, including 5 and 0 tsRNA in seminal EVs and spermatozoa, respectively, with low variability. The fatty acid synthase (FAS) had the lowest IIV in both media in targeted protein quantification. We identified a number of proteins and sncRNA with low variability among 111 proteins, 176 sncRNA, and 12 tsRNA which were previously suggested as biomarkers of male fertility and reproductive outcomes: lactotransferrin, cysteine-rich secretory protein 3, alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, epididymal sperm-binding protein 1, glutathione S-transferase Mu 3, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein 2, serum amyloid P-component, aminopeptidase N, neprilysin, FAS, and miR-10b-3p, miR-122-5p, miR-205-5p, miR-222-3p, miR-34c-5p, miR-509-3-5p, miR-888-5p, miR-892a, miR-363-3p, miR-941, miR-146a-5p, miR-744-5p. These molecules have low IIV and may be promising candidate biomarkers of male fertility and reproductive health.

Effect of paternal overweight or obesity on semen parameters, clinical pregnancy and live birth outcomes in men treated with intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Overweight and obese individuals are steadily increasing in recent years. Male overweight or obesity has adverse impact on reproductive functions. The study aimed to evaluate the potential impact of paternal overweight or obesity on sperm quality and clinical pregnancy outcome in patients undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment. This retrospective study included 1,036 couples from our reproductive center between July 2019 and August 2022. All males were categorized into normal weight, overweight, or obese groups according to their body mass index (BMI). Baseline characteristics and reproductive hormones were analyzed. Semen parameters, clinical pregnancy and live birth outcomes were compared among the different BMI groups. There were no significant differences in sperm concentration, total sperm motility, progressive sperm motility, normal sperm morphology and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) among the three groups. However, the obese group exhibited a significantly decreased semen volume compared to the other two groups (P<0.01). No differences were found in clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), abortion rate (AR) and live birth rate (LBR) among the groups (P>0.05). Slight higher ARs were observed in overweight and obese groups compared to normal group (13.64%, 21.05% vs. 11.11%, P=0.49). These data suggest that male obesity leads to a significant decrease in semen volume. It is thus recommended that male BMI should be regarded as one of the predictors for IUI treatment to avoid a decrease in semen volume.

Impact of sperm DNA fragmentation in couples with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss: A cross-sectional study.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) has a multifactorial etiology, with a majority of cases remaining unexplained. To account for these unexplained cases, possible male factors are being explored. Conventional semen analysis lacks a qualitative assessment of sperms and information regarding sperm DNA integrity. Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) has diagnostic value in unexplained RPL, and it may account for a number of unexplained cases. Hence, we planned a study to explore and evaluate the impact of sperm DNA fragmentation in couples with unexplained recurrent pregnancy losses. Analytical cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary-level referral facility in India between August 2021 and July 2023. Participants (n = 70) were divided into two groups-male partners of couples with unexplained RPL (following spontaneous conceptions) (n = 35) and men with at least one previous live birth (spontaneous or following fertility treatments for female factor infertility such as ovulation induction or intrauterine insemination) as controls (n = 35). Neither of the two groups of couples recruited for this study had undergone ART as fertility treatment. Primary outcome assessed was mean DNA fragmentation index (DFI). Secondary outcomes included differences in semen parameters such as sperm concentration, progressive sperm motility and morphology, proportion of men with high (≥30%) and low DFI in the two groups, and the association between various semen parameters and DFI. Univariate logistic regression revealed that sperm DNA fragmentation was higher in men with unexplained RPL (30.0; IQR (interquartile range) 19.0, 46.0) as compared to controls (22.0; IQR 14.0, 30.0) although it was not statistically significant (OR, odds ratio, 1.02; 95% CI 1.0-1.1, p = 0.08). A higher proportion of men with unexplained RPL had DFI ≥30% compared to controls (54.2% vs. 25.7%; OR 3.43 (95% CI 1.2-9.4); p = 0.02). No statistically significant differences were observed in semen volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility, and morphology between the two groups. Sperm DNA fragmentation index also showed a weak but significant inverse relationship with sperm morphology (r = -0.336, p = 0.004). The current study did not show any significant difference in the mean sperm DNA fragmentation levels in male partners of couples with unexplained RPL compared to controls. However, a higher proportion of men with DFI ≥30% were observed in unexplained RPL population when compared to controls.

Role of varicocelectomy in infertile patients with clinical varicocele and isolated sperm defects

ObjectiveThis study investigated the outcomes of microsurgical subinguinal varicocelectomy (MV) on semen and hormonal parameters in cases with isolated sperm defects (oligo-, astheno-, or terato-zoospermia). MethodsRetrospective review of charts of patients who underwent MV for clinically palpable varicocele between 2011 and 2019 at our institution was undertaken. All patients diagnosed with isolated oligo-, astheno-, or terato-zoospermia in the preoperative semen analysis were included. Men with azoospermia, history of genitourinary infection, or utilizing peri-operative fertility medications were excluded. Collected data included patient demographics, and results of routine semen analysis, DNA fragmentation, and hormone parameters (follicle stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and estradiol) before MV and up to 6 months postoperatively. ResultsA total of 331 patients with isolated sperm defects were included. Postoperatively, 83.3 % of isolated oligozoospermic patients showed a significant improvement in sperm concentration. Among isolated asthenozoospermic men, 76.7 % and 66.0 % showed postoperative significant improvement of total and progressive motility, respectively. For the teratozoospermic group, 70 % of patients showed a significant improvement in normal morphology. No changes were observed in other semen or hormone parameters that were examined. ConclusionMV is a valid and effective treatment modality for patients with isolated sperm defects that significantly corrects their respective semen abnormality and improves their chances of natural conception.

Association of sperm DNA fragmentation index with demographics, semen parameters and outcomes of infertile male with repeated intrauterine insemination failure referred for intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a cohort study

Association of sperm DNA fragmentation index with demographics, semen parameters and outcomes of infertile male with repeated intrauterine insemination failure referred for intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a cohort study

52454 Hidradenitis Suppurativa Is Associated with Abnormalities in Semen Parameters and Sexual Function

52454 Hidradenitis Suppurativa Is Associated with Abnormalities in Semen Parameters and Sexual Function

Sperm quality and sexual function after the first COVID-19 infection during the omicron surge: an observational study in southwest China.

As the Omicron variant became the dominant coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) strain and the threat to human health decreased, the impact of COVID-19 on male reproductive health and semen quality may have changed. In this prospective observational study, we aimed to investigate the changes in semen quality and sexual function before and after the Omicron variant infection by self-controlled study and to explore the influence of Omicron variant infection on male reproductive health. We recruited 373 participants who provided semen samples before their first COVID-19 infection. During the subsequent follow-up, only 154 participants provided the second semen samples, 11 of whom were not infected with COVID-19. Sperm quality was assessed approximately 45 and 90 days after COVID-19, as well as before infection. Semen parameters, including total sperm count, total forward sperm, progressive motility, and sperm concentration, significantly declined 45 days after COVID-19 infection. At 90 days after infection, the total sperm count, total forward sperm, and sperm concentration gradually increased to pre-infection levels. Participants who experienced fever showed worse semen quality in terms of total forward sperm, sperm concentration, and sperm progressive rate. However, this phenomenon was not observed in the other group infected with COVID-19 without fever or not infected. In addition, 49 (34.3%) of 143 persons confirmed that the COVID-19 infection resulted in changes in sexual function, with an increase in premature ejaculation diagnostic tool (PEDT) scores. The results of our self-controlled study indicate that COVID-19 is associated with impaired semen quality early after disease onset. After 1-2 spermatogenesis cycles, the semen quality gradually recovers from the infection. These findings are beneficial for better understanding the COVID-19-associated sequelae, which are fundamental for semen collection during assisted reproduction.

Reversible effects of the SARS-CoV-2 on semen parameters

Despite that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been controlled, it has affected a large proportion of the population, raising some concerns about potential sequelae in men at reproductive age. To contribute to the clarification of this issue, we performed a retrospective study comparing semen parameters values before and after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large cohort of infertile men, compared to a control group that did not undergo SARS-CoV-2 infection. Wilcoxon test on paired samples and general linear regression model showed that SARS-CoV-2 infection has a detrimental effect on semen volume values (p < 0.005). However, semen volume seems to be significantly lower only during the first spermatogenic cycle after SARS-COV-2 infection (p < 0.005) and mainly in unvaccinated patients (p < 0.05). In addition, we detected alterations in progressive motility in patients infected with the alpha SARS-COV-2 strain (p < 0.05). In conclusion, our results show that although SARS-CoV-2 has a small effect on semen volume and sperm motility in infertile men, depending on the infectious strain or vaccination status, pre-infection values of semen parameters appear to be restored over one spermatogenic cycle after infection.

United Kingdom data collection of semen quality in transgender adolescent females seeking fertility preservation

ObjectiveIncreasing numbers of adolescents with gender dysphoria start gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists to halt puberty, minimising psychological distress. The uncertainty of long-term effects of this medication, and the subsequent likelihood of accessing gender affirming hormone treatment, highlights the importance of fertility preservation prior to starting hormone treatment. We investigated the take up, hormonal profile and sperm quality in adolescents undergoing fertility preservation via cryopreservation by masturbation or surgical sperm retrieval, prior to starting hormonal therapy. DesignData was prospectively maintained from a tertiary UK-based hospital. 122 people under 19 years, mean age 15.2 +/- 1.7 years, referred by gender clinics and GPs, were included in this cohort study. SubjectsParticipants were counselled for fertility preservation, and serum testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone levels were recorded prior to providing semen samples. InterventionMasturbation semen samples were classified as normal (>15mil/ml), oligozoospermia (1mil-15mil/ml), cryptozoospermia (<1mil/ml) or azoospermia. If the sample was insufficient or the person was unwilling to masturbate, surgical sperm retrieval was offered in a stepwise manner using electroejaculation, TESE +/- mTESE. Main Outcome measurementsQuality of semen produced by participants, via masturbation or surgical sperm retrieval, was analysed to determine if it was good enough to cryopreserve for future fertility use. Results23/122 (19%) participants declined sample storage.In the masturbation group (average age 16.3), 78 people produced 106 samples. 86/106 were stored - 43.7% were normospermic, 35.9% oligozoospermic, 8.7% cryptozoospermic, 11.7% azoospermic. Overall, semen parameters varied but were generally abnormal, illustrated by only 43.7% of the masturbation samples produced being normospermic.For surgical sperm retrieval subjects (average age 15.2), electroejaculation was successful in 4/21 people, while the rest proceeded with TESE/mTESE. Encouragingly, 16/21 subjects had an average of 5 vials stored, and all participants had a testosterone level >8nmol/l. Semen parameters in this sub-cohort were poor but possibly adequate for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. ConclusionsIn this large database of transgender girls referred for fertility preservation in the UK, fertility preservation is possible, even with those unwilling to masturbate. Long-term data is required to check the health of these gametes, observing live birth rates using these preserved gametes.

Contraceptive effect of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone vaccine on captive male brown bears (Ursus arctos).

Fertility control has traditionally been applied in zoos to control captive populations, and reversible contraception is important. However, contraceptive methods for male bears have not been reported. We aimed to establish a reversible contraceptive for male brown bears by investigating the effects of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccine (Improvac®) that was developed for the immune castration of pigs. We vaccinated six bears with two sequential doses of 400 (n = 2) or 600 μg Improvac® (n = 4) with a 1-month interval during the pre-breeding season (February to April). We compared the reproductive parameters (testosterone levels and semen parameters) of the six vaccinated and four non-vaccinated (control) bears once during the breeding season (May or June). To investigate whether the reproductive performance could be restored in the following year of contraception, we also compared the reproductive parameters once during the breeding season in two bears between the year with GnRH vaccination and the following year without vaccination. Vaccination treatments suppressed reproductive parameters in 5 bears, although vaccination with 400 μg of Improvac® was not effective in one bear. Testosterone levels and the rate of progressive sperm motility were significantly lower, and total sperm count and testis size tended to be lower in vaccinated bears, compared with the controls. Blood biochemical findings and direct observations after Improvac® vaccination did not reveal side effects. Moreover, testosterone levels and spermatogenic scores of two bears were restored in the following year. We confirmed that the Improvac® vaccine elicited a reversible contraceptive effect in male brown bears.

Papillomavirus infection and male infertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Increasing attention is being paid to the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in men and specifically reproduction. Growing evidence suggests an association between HPV infection with many adverse effects including the impairment of semen parameters, the increase of blastocyst apoptosis, the reduction of endometrial implantation of trophoblastic cells, as well as the increase rate of miscarriages and spontaneous preterm birth. We systematically searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, CINHAL, PsycINFO, and ERIC from inception to 2nd of July 2024, for studies that investigated the association between HPV infection with sperm parameters and fertility outcomes. The meta-analysis was conducted on mean data and standard deviations. We included 25 studies with a total of 6942 patients. Sperm morphology was lower in HPV positive groups versus HPV negative control groups (SMD = -0.52 95% CI -0.84; -0.21; p = 0.001). Sperm motility was also significantly lower in HPV positive groups when compared to HPV negative controls (SMD = -0.82 95% CI -1.07; -0.57; p = <0.001). Sperm volume, concentration, and pH were not significantly different between the two groups. The other 15 studies included in the systematic review for which it was not possible to conduct a meta-analysis showed strong associations between HPV infection and impairment of sperm parameters, reduced couple fertility and increased risk of pregnancy loss. The current evidence highlights the link between HPV infection and sperm parameters, male fertility and reproductive outcomes, which has the potential to lead to a decreased couple fertility, increased risk of pregnancy loss, re-infection and increased treatment costs.

CD147 mediates S protein pseudovirus of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its induction of spermatogonia apoptosis.

Male cases diagnosed COVID-19 with more complications and higher mortality compared with females, and the overall consequences of male sex hormones and semen parameters deterioration were observed in COVID-19 patients, whereas the involvement and mechanism for spermatogenic cell remains unclear. The study was aimed to investigate the infection mode of S protein (D614G) pseudovirus (pseu-S-D614G) to spermatogenic cells, as well as the influence on cell growth. Both mouse spermatogonia (GC-1 cell, immortalized spermatogonia) and spermatocyte (GC-2 cell, immortalized spermatocytes) were used to detect the infection of pseu-S-D614G of SARS-CoV-2, and further explored the effect of SARS-CoV-2-spike protein (S-protein) and SARS-CoV-2-spike protein (omicron) (O-protein) on GC-1 cell apoptosis and proliferation. The data showed that the pseu-S-D614G invaded into GC-1 cells through either human ACE2 (hACE2) or human CD147 (hCD147), whereas GC-2 cells were insensitive to viral infection. In addition, the apoptosis and proliferation suppression inflicted by S-protein and O-protein on GC-1 cells was through Bax-Caspase3 signaling rather than arresting cell cycle progression. These findings suggest that CD147, apart from ACE2, may be a potential receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infection in testicular tissues, and that the apoptotic effect was induced in spermatogonia cells by S-protein or O-protein, eventually resulted in the damage to male fertility.

Seminal plasma TEX101 protein as a spermatogenesis biomarker in male infertility.

Male infertility may be results from reduced sperm production, or oligozoospermia and azoospermia. Testis-expressed 101 (TEX101) is a glycoprotein that is associated with male fertility, and the disruption of TEX101 results in abnormal semen parameters and sperm function. A case-control study was done to measure seminal plasma TEX101 in 184 volunteers by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Significant differences in the mean of TEX101 values were estimated between fertile men (9.64 ng/ml, N= 40), normozoospermic infertile men (8.57 ng/ml, N= 28), and infertile men with oligospermia (5.35 ng/ml, N= 76), and azoospermia (3.19 ng/ml, N= 40). Significant differences between the mean of TEX101 values were estimated in azoospermic infertile men according to the presence of spermatids as no-spermatid (0.66 ng/ml, N=12), few spermatids (3.05 ng/ml, N=16), and moderate spermatids (5.88 ng/ml, N=12). In addition, a significant correlation in oligozoospermia infertile men was found between TEX101 with seminogram. Clinical assay for TEX101 has the potential to diagnose male infertility. And as a biomarker for the seminal fluid quality and as a differential diagnosis of non-obstructive azoospermia.

Effect of SARS-CoV-2 on semen parameters: A meta-analysis of 39 articles from 15 countries.

Declining birth rates during the pandemic have led to concerns about the potential impact of the of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on fertility among men. As previous studies have had inconsistent conclusions, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on semen parameters. We searched several databases for articles published between 1 January 2020 and 25 July 2023. We performed a robust screening process based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria and, following quality assessment, extracted data from high-quality studies for the meta-analysis. We determined the P-values and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for both continuous and dichotomous variables, which we described using mean differences (MDs) and odds ratios (ORs), respectively. Lastly, we used the leave-one-out approach for our sensitivity analysis, and Begg's and Egger's tests to determine publication bias. We included 39 articles with 1887 cases and 2097 controls. In patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, the sperm volume (MD = -0.29; 95% CI = -0.50, -0.07; P = 0.008) and concentration (MD = -8.71; 95% CI = -16.94, -0.48; P = 0.04) were decreased, which increased oligospermia risk (OR = 2.49; 95% CI = 1.04, 5.99; P = 0.04). Furthermore, we observed reduced sperm motility (MD = -8.18; 95% CI = -12.19, -4.17; P < 0.001) and increased immotility (MD = 4.06; 95% CI = 1.57, 6.54; P = 0.001) in infected patients, which increased asthenospermia risk (OR = 3.86; 95%CI = 1.83, 8.14; P = 0.0004). We also saw a decreased proportion of semen with normal sperm morphology (MD = -1.67; 95% CI = -2.68, -0.66; P = 0.001) and an increased proportion of semen with abnormal sperm morphology (MD = -1.31; 95% CI = -2.14, -0.49; P = 0.002,), along with increases in teratospermia (OR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.00, 3.92; P = 0.05) in infected compared non-infected patients. Although we found consistency within most subgroups, we observed differences in severity, follow-up time, and country of origin. The results of the main meta-analysis results remained stable in the sensitivity analysis, while Begg's and Egger's tests showed no publication bias. Based on sufficient evidence, we see that the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on semen parameters resulted in a decline in male fertility. The increased severity and shorter duration of the SARS-CoV-2 infection increased the likelihood of altering of semen parameters. INPLASY: INPLASY202420083.

High risk of low birth weight in couples with advanced paternal age in in vitro fertilization treatment.

With the development of socio-economic conditions and a shift in attitudes towards fertility, there has been a gradual increase in delayed childbearing since the 2000s. Ageplays a significant role in the decline of fertility. However, we know very little about the association of paternal age with reproductive outcomes. To investigate the correlation between advanced paternal age and semen quality, embryo quality, pregnancy, and neonatal outcomes in IVF cycles. In this study, after excluding female partners aged ≥35 years, we analyzed data from 761 infertile couples who underwent in vitro fertilization cycles at the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC between June 2020 and March 2023. Cases were classified into three groups according to the age of the male: <35 years (530 infertile couples), 35 years ≤ paternal age <40 years (125 infertile couples), and ≥40 years (106 infertile couples). Then, we compared the general clinical data arising from in vitro fertilization cycles between the three groups, including semen parameters, embryonic parameters, and pregnancy and neonatal birth outcomes. Data analysis showed that the duration of infertility and the incidence of secondary infertility were significantly higher in paternal age ≥35 years groups than those aged <35 years (all p<0.05). We also observed a significant difference between ≥40 years and <35 years groups in terms of the normal fertilization rate, high-quality embryo rate, clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, live birth rate, Apgar scores, and the low birth weight neonatal rate (all p<0.05). The group with paternal age ≥40 years showed statistically significant differences in terms of clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, live birth rate, and low birth weight on multivariable logistic regression (all p<0.05). The results of our study indicate that advanced paternal age (≥40 years) has a significant impact on the embryo quality, pregnancy outcome, and neonatal outcome. Paternal age over 40 years is a risk for in vitro fertilization success rate.