Patterns of Semen Analysis: Experiences of a Laboratory Catering to Semi Urban Population of Delhi

Abstract

Abstract:Background:Infertilityis defined as failure of a couple to conceive after one year of regular sexual intercourse. It remains both prevalent and problematic among couples worldwide. The analysis of semen remains the preliminary investigation for males in the workup of infertility in couples.It is a key element in the fertility evaluation of men and permits male reproductive potential to be evaluated in association with possible risk factors. Aim: To assess and analyse the semen characteristics of all the males who presented to our hospital, irrespective of primary or secondary infertility. Material and Methods: This is an observational study conducted in the Department of Pathology, Hamdard Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi; from Jan 2012 to Oct 2013. Semen of 139 subjects were evaluated and results analyzed Results: The present study included 139 subjects whose age ranged from 22 years to 48 years with a mean age of 29.42 years. Patients were divided into oligospermia[17%], normospermia[16%] and azoospermia [9%]. 42.5% of the cases had sperm counts in the range of 51-80million/ml. Asthenospermia was seen in 22.1% of the cases.An age specific comparative analysis of the mean sperm counts, total motility and normal morphology revealed a decline in the aaverage values of these parameters with age. Conclusions: Routine semen analysis remains the backbone of the evaluation of the male factor infertility, but it is important to acknowledge the limitation of semen analysis with respect to collection, processing, evaluation, biological variation of the parameters and lack of information on sperm function. A normal semen analysis does not guarantee the fertilization potential of sperm.

Semen Analysis; Corner Stone in Evaluating Infertility

“…The mean percentage of normal motile sperms was 57% ± 9.76 in normospermia samples as compared to oligospermia in which motile sperms were 28% ± 10%. In our study, asthenozoospermia was observed in 28% of samples and comparable results were obtained from a studies conducted by Butt et al 5 (25.81%) and Aulia et al 6 (22.1%), while much lower percentage is reported by Jarajpuri et al 15 (5.9%), Ramya et al 16…”

“…Our study revealed azoospermia in 28 (7.6%) of males, which was comparable to study by Jairajpuri et al from Delhi in which azoospermia was 9% 15 and Ramya et al reported 7.5%.16 Much lower percentage was reported by Anuja et al from Devanahalli as 2%. 17 One of the Pakistani study by Fouzia et al shows Azoospermia to be 14.89%.…”

Male Infertility Rate in Belagavi, Karnataka, India

“…This is a very rarely seen abnormality in our country. 11,16,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37] The infertility rate we observed is compared to that reported by different authors from different parts of globe (Table 3).…”

“…Delhi being highly polluted may be responsible for poor semen in 84% of total cases. 34 In this retrospective study where semen records were scrutinized and 62% of them were infertile. Some of their partners may also be infertile, and which is not known and is beyond the scope of this study.…”

“…Male infertility (%) Bangladesh 24 29 France 25 35 Israel 26 28 Pakistan 27 26 Singapore 28 23 The United Kingdom 29 30 West Germany 30 28 India-Ahmedabad 31 64 Ahmedabad 32 76 Bengaluru 33 35 Delhi 34 84 Jamnagar 35 75 Jamnagar 36 45 Kolar 35 42 Wardha 37 65 Present study…”