The study consisted of 35 male subjects attending an andrology clinic. The subjects all had poor sperm parameters that could not be attributed to any known medical cause. The objective was to evaluate the relation between various seminal characteristics (volume, total sperm count, sperm viability, proportion of progressively motile sperm, and different sperm morphology) and the blood concentrations of lead, cadmium, mercury, copper, and zinc. The mean blood concentrations of lead, mercury, copper, and zinc were within the normal values; cadmium concentration (1.35 pg/L) was much higher than the norms. Asthenozoospermic subjects had significantly (p < ,025) higher blood cadmium levels than normozoosperrnic subjects. No significant differences were noted between the two groups for mean concentration of mercury, zinc, and copper in blood. Significant correlations were observed between blood cadmium levels and volume of semen, midpiece defects, and immature forms of spermatozoa. High blood cadmium levels may have an effect on spermatogenesis. Possible reasons for the high blood cadmium levels among the subjects are discussed.

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In one department practicing critical review of indications for cesarean delivery, the overall LSCS rate was maintained at 12.3%, 11.1%, 11.2% and 11.4% for 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990, respectively. A highly significant (P = 0.0013) reduction of 26.8% was observed in the LSCS rate for cephalo-pelvic disproportion between 1987 and 1990. Perinatal mortality rate per 1000 births remained low at 8.25, 7.05, 9.39 and 5.83 for infants weighing 500 g or more.

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