Evaluation of trend in semen analysis for 11 years in subjects attending a fertility clinic in India

• Published in: Asian journal of andrology Vol. 5; no. 3; pp. 221 - 225
• Main Authors: MARIMUTHU, P, KAPILASHRAMI, M. C, MISRO, M. M, SINGH, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford blackwell 01.09.2003
• Subjects: Adult; Aging - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; India; Infertility, Male - therapy; Male; Male genital diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases; Semen - cytology; Socioeconomic Factors; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility - physiology; 男性不育症; 精子运动性; 精液分析; Asia; India; Human; Motility; Prevalence; Semen; Age criterion; Biological activity; Speculation; Clinic; Fertility; Declination; Male sterility; Male genital diseases; Counting
• ISSN: 1008-682X; 1745-7262

Aim: The data on semen analysis of subjects attending the Fertility Clinic at NIHFW (National Institute of Health and Family Welfare) Munirka, New Delhi for the last 11 years were analyzed to verify the claims and speculations on declining sperm counts in men. Methods: Approximately 10 % of the records every year starting from 1990 to 2000 (numbering 1176 in total) were randomly selected for analysis. Subjects with azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia were excluded from analysis. Results: The average age of the men attending the infertility clinic was 31.2 years. The average semen volume and sperm count were found to be (2.6 ± 0.1) mL and (60.6 ±0.9)× 10^6/ml., respectively. No significant decline in sperm counts was observed in anyyear during the entire studyperiod. Only 1.8 % of the total number of sperm counts in the random sampling were less then 20×10^6/mL. On the basis of WHO criteria on motility, the total percentage of non-progressive and non-motile sperm in the ejaculate was higher (63 %) as compared to the combined categories of slow and rapid linear progressive. Conclusion: The present study has confmned similar findings from other different countries that declining sperm counts in humans is not a global phenomenon. ( Asian J Androl 2003 Sep; 5: 221-225)