The Semen of Fertile Black Males: Analysis of 100 Consecutive Cases

Abstract

The fertility potential of any male can be predicted through the evaluation of his semen. Over the years, it seems the figures of sperm density considered compatible with fertility have gradually been reducing. Macleod and Gold 1 and the American Fertility Society 2 recommended that sperm density of 20-40x10 6 /mL should be regarded as the minimum for fertility. These studies were conducted a long time ago and the data were on fertile males from the developed countries.In 1992, the World Health Organization (WHO) 3 proposed that 20xl0 6 /mL should be the universally accepted limit of fertility. This limit has up to recent times been used in assessing the fertility potential of males in both developed and developing countries. However, a wealth of evidence in the reproductive biomedical literature indicates that factors such as nutritional, stress, environmental and demographic status affect the sperm picture of males. 4,5 This implies that there is the need for each country and each region of a country, and even individual laboratories, to establish their own reference parameters. The above studies laid more emphasis on sperm counts. More recent reports specify that other conventional semen parameters, such as morphology, motility and vitality, are equally important in assessing the fertility potentials of males. 6,7 Hence, there is need for the inclusion and increased emphasis on these parameters in all semen analyses and evaluation exercises.A recent study using the Western and WHO's limits of fertility indicates that the male factor to infertility in IleIfe, Nigeria, may be as high as 63.1%. 8 Such a conclusion can only be validated if the normal semen values in fertile males in this environment are known.Chukudebelu 9 and Osegbe et al. 10 have attempted to establish seminal indices in fertile males in Enugu and Lagos, Nigeria, respectively. The results of these studies showed a wide variation in the parameters estimated. It is against this background that we conducted the present study to establish the seminal fluid indices of fertile black males in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, where none exist, and to compare the results with those obtained from other parts of the same country. Subjects and MethodsThis study took place in the antenatal clinics of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, IleIfe, Nigeria. A period of 16 months was fixed for this study. Clearance was sought and obtained from the Research and Ethical Committee of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex for the study.Every consecutive subject who was contacted and agreed to participate in the study was included. They were made up of male partners of pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics of this hospital. Each woman who attended the clinic within the study period was requested to bring the husband to the succeeding clinic. The purpose of the study was explained to husbands who responded and their informed consent obtained. A total of 148 husbands of fertile couples responded, however, only 100 of them agreed to partici...

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

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Semen analysis and sperm function parameters in patients with infertility in Navi Mumbai and Panvel region

“…A relatively higher mean age of 36.8years and 34 years has been reported by other authors. 14,15 However, a mean age of 30 years in concordance with our finding was observed by Jajoo S et al 16 Male fertility usually peaks at around 35 years of age and declines after 45 years of age. 17 The changes associated with aging are moderate, but significant, although the capacity to fertilize is maintained.…”

“…higher as compared to value of 62.02% reported by Alemnji. 26,14 Sperm morphology along with motility and sperm count is also an important contributing factor in male fertility. The total number of morphologically normal spermatozoa in the ejaculate is of biological significance, the lower reference limit for normal sperm morphology is 4% as per the latest WHO guidelines.…”