Annual trends in semen parameters among men attending a fertility center between 2016 and 2022

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have shown sperm concentration and count decline in many countries, however, authors’ conclusions were inconsistent. These types of studies were not conducted in Russia so far.

AIM: To evaluate and analyze semen parameters among men attending a fertility center in St. Petersburg between 2016 and 2022.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study parameters of 14234 consequent semen analyses performed according to WHO guidelines (2010) were sorted, analyzed and compared by year.

RESULTS: The distribution parameters of the ejaculate volume did not have change over observation period. Azoospermia and cryptozoospermia were detected in 597 (4.2%) and 435 (3.1%) men respectively. A downward trends for sperm concentration of 1.6 million/ml (1.9%)/year and sperm count of 7 million (1.8%)/year were found, with simultaneous annual increase of 1.3% in the proportion of progressively motile spermatozoa. No noticeable changes in the number of motile spermatozoa and the proportion of spermatozoa with normal morphology were found.

CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to obtain final conclusions about the gradual decline in the semen quality and reproductive function of men, also in other centers of the Russian Federation.

Keywords

andrology / male infertility / male reproductive health / sperm quality / sperm count

References

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