SEMEN PARAMETERS

A DESCRIPTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY ON SUB-FERTILE MALES PRESENTING AT A PRIVATE ASSISTED REPRODUCTION CLINIC IN LAHORE PAKISTAN.

Abstract

Semen is a pale whitish fluid secreted by male during ejaculation and contains
spermatozoa which are male gametes essential of fertilizing the oocytes which are female
gametes. In a quest to evaluate male’s fertility potential semen is analyzed to look into some of
its characteristics and of the sperms contained within the semen analyzed. Method of collection
influences the results of Semen analysis as does the technique of analysis. Spermatozoa are
examined for number (count), shape (morphology) and movement (motility) in order to assess
their quality. Non sperm cells, volume, Fructose level, pH, liquefaction are also checked as
a part of routine analysis. Objectives: To describe the pattern of semen parameters in subfertile
males. To look into frequency and distribution of abnormal semen parameters in a group
of Pakistani males in Lahore. Methods: In this Retrospective, cross sectional, observational
study all males undergoing for evaluation and treatment for sub-fertility at a private Assisted
Reproductive Technology clinic in Lahore, Pakistan were included. Approval of the IRB was
sought and data collection instrument was a specially designed Performa which was validated
by the biostatistician of LIFE research cell. Data was extracted from the files of LIFE (Lahore
Institute of Fertility and Endocrinology) and entered in SPSS version 15. Sampling technique
was non-probability, consecutive. Semen analysis was done by methods defined by the WHO
(World Health Organization). Results: Of total patient (n=679) 92.2% (626) males passed sample
at LIFE (Lahore institute of fertility and endocrinology) and (7.8%) 53 brought sample from
home. Of the males who passed sample at LIFE (78.8%) 535 collected semen by masturbation,
(11.9%) 81 by coitus; the source of sample of (9.3%) 63 males was not known. As 2-6 ml semen
was consider to be normal by WHO criteria, (80.6%) 547 males were in normal range (14.1%)
96 found to be less than 2-6 ml and (5.3%) 36 found to be more than normal range. According
to WHO criteria 15 million/ml count is said to be normal, in our research (82.0%) 557 were found
to be normal, in (2.9%) 20 count was found to be less than 15 million/ml and in (5.9%) 40 count
was less than 1 million/ml. In (9.1%) 62 counts was found to be abnormally low. In this research
(66.1%) 449 had normal sperm motility, (21.8%) 148 had less than 40% and abnormally low
sperm motility was found in (12.1%) 82 males. Conclusion: The results of the single semen
analysis are of limited utility and no decision should be taken on the bases of these results in
term of diagnosis and treatment strategies.