Introduction. To investigate the association of high Body Mass Index (BMI) with semen parameters and reproductive hormones in men of reproductive age. Setting. The Saudi Center for Assisted Reproduction. Method. This study was conducted during the period from February 2009 to February 2011. Subjects were exposed through medical history evaluation as well as physical examination. BMI was calculated. Two semen samples about 1 week apart were taken from each participant by masturbation after 2–5 days of abstinence. The samples were assessed according to the WHO Criteria. Blood samples (5 ml) were withdrawn; centrifuged and the resulting sera were preserved at −4 degrees Centigrade. Serum FSH, LH, PRL, and Testosterone levels were estimated by the ELISA method. Results. There was no significant correlation between BMI and any of semen and hormonal parameters. There was significant negative correlation between age and total motility. Only the advanced paternal age has shown significant association with low motility (P = 0.007). Conclusion. Our study showed a significant effect of aging on sperm motility and concentration.

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BackgroundInitial low maternal serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) is a good predictor of early pregnancy demise. Our objective was to determine its predictive value in determining the long-term outcome in ICSI pregnancies.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was designed at the Saudi Center for Assisted Reproduction. Two hundred and sixty-one women with ICSI pregnancies were followed up from initial β-hCG level determination till the end of pregnancy. Accuracy of early β-hCG in predicting the occurrence of a live-birth, ongoing pregnancy, late miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and early miscarriage following ICSI was measured.Resultsβ-hCG levels were significantly different in pregnancies that reached the stage of an ongoing pregnancy and live-birth as compared to early pregnancy loss. The ROC curves demonstrated a high sensitivity for identifying patients with ectopic pregnancies and early miscarriage (100% and 93.33% respectively). The remaining results ranged from a sensitivity of 69% to 79% and specificity of 62% to 75%.ConclusionsIn ICSI pregnancies, a single early β-hCG may help to identify pregnancies that will reach full-term and delivery.KeywordsICSI; Human chorionic gonadotropin; Outcome; Pregnancy

The objective was to determine if symptoms of obstructive voiding correlate with post-void residual urine volume measured by catheterization. A cross-sectional study of 134 consecutive women referred to a tertiary urogynecology clinic was performed. Subjects were interviewed regarding three types of obstructive voiding symptoms: a sensation of incomplete emptying, straining to void, and slow urine stream. Post-void residual urine volume was measured by catheterization as the gold standard. Data for each symptom were analyzed using Cohen's kappa test, sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios for a positive of negative test, and positive and negative predictive values. A total of 11 out of 134 patients (8%) had a post-void residual volume greater than 100 ml. Of these 11, 1 had symptoms of incomplete emptying (9%), 1 had symptoms of straining to void (9%), and 2 had symptoms of slow urine stream (18%). Sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratio for a positive symptom, likelihood ratio for a negative symptom, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and Cohen's kappa, respectively, were 9%, 80%, 0.47, 1.13, 4%, 91%, and 0.05 for the symptom of incomplete emptying, 9%, 91%, 1.12, 1.0, 8%, 92%, and 0.01 for straining to void, and 18%, 89%, 1.6, 0.92, 13%, 92%, and 0.07 for the symptom of slow urine stream. It was concluded that symptoms of obstructive voiding do not correlate with measured post-void urine volume. In clinically important situations, these symptoms cannot substitute for measurement of post-void residual urine volume.