The semen volume is made up by the accessory glands (90%) and germinal cells (10%) (RB Mayer, 2015). Seminal plasma has enabling factors for sperm microenvironment (Aida Pujol, 2016), allowing among many other processes, sperm maturation (Yu-Wen Kuo, 2016).Objective: To analyze the correlation of seminal volume parameters with the outcome of fertilized oocytes.
Material and methods:It is a prospective observational study, including 100 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization. The seminal sample was obtained by ejaculation and analyzed with WHO's 2010 criteria (Andrology laboratory procedures manual, 2010). Data encompassed seminal volumes and fertilized oocytes. Statistical analysis was made with Kolmogorov-Smirnov normalization, determining correlation of Pearson and significance of p ≤0.05.
Results:The following parameters were registered: Seminal volume: 1.5-7.6 (average 2.7 ml), number of fertilized MII oocytes: 1-33 (average 10 oocytes). Pearson correlation of 0.737 (p= 0.002). By dividing groups of fertilized oocytes and seminal volumes by standard Kolmogorov we obtained significance with the number of fertilized eggs with 4.8 and 14 oocytes (p=0.001), and we also obtained significance with the seminal volume, ranging from 2 to 3.2ml (p=0.003).Discussion: Our study shows that it exists a prognostic relationship between the seminal volume and the number of fertilized eggs in an in vitro fertilization. A seminal volume ranging from 2 to 3.2ml has a better chance to produce adequate fertilization. Volumes lower than this values may reflect inadequate sperm formation and regulation and volumes greater may reflect other inflammatory conditions, such as infection (Jared M Bienek, 2016).
Conclusion:Seminal volume reflects a healthy testicular function, producing spermatozoa capable of achieving good fertilization. Alterations on the seminal volume indicate inadequate conditions for the correct formation of spermatozoa, or increased inflammation molecules that damage the microenvironment.