Decline in semen concentration of healthy Chinese adults: evidence from 9357 participants from 2010 to 2015

Yuan, Hongfang; Shangguan, Huang-Fang; Zheng, Yi; Meng, Tian-Qing; Xiong, Chengliang; Guan, Huang-Tao

doi:10.4103/aja.aja_80_17

Cited by 24 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 46 publications

(59 reference statements)

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“…Our results clearly illustrate that semen quality is declining during the past 11 years in Henan Province, China. Our findings support previous reports that semen quality is declining in other parts of the world [2][3][4][5][6][7][8] . The possible etiologies of the declining semen quality among Chinese men are unclear.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…As far as we know, this is the first study on time trends in semen quality among Chinese men in Henan Province. Studies [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][23][24][25] suggest that semen quality is declining globally, however, the debate remains open due to the possible effects of ethnic and geographical differences. In contrast, several other studies have reported no significant change in semen quality [9][10][11][12] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The annualized rate of decline in the total motility was lower than that reported in America (2% per year) 23 , but it was higher than that reported in Paris (0.6% per year) 2 and Marseille (0.4% per year) 4 . The possible reasons for the discrepancy are as follows: (1) small sample size are used in the previous study 10,11 ; (2) subjects in these studies are fertile men 2,3,11 or infertile men 5,21,25 ; (3) there are differences in lifestyle habits, ethnicity, and geographical regions [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][22][23][24][25] ; (4) the different study periods [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][22][23][24][25] .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A longitudinal study of semen quality among Chinese sperm donor candidates during the past 11 years

Liu

Dai

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Studies suggest that semen quality is declining globally, however, the debate remains open due to the possible effects of ethnic and geographical differences. This study aimed to explore whether semen quality of sperm donor candidates has changed in Henan Province, China from 2009 to 2019. In this retrospective study, we included 23,936 sperm donor candidates who were recruited by the Henan Human Sperm Bank of China between 2009 and 2019. To minimize intra-individual bias, we included only the first ejaculate provided by each sperm donor candidate. The following parameters were measured: volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, progressive motility, and total motility. After adjustment for age, body mass index (BMi), and sexual abstinence duration, we evaluated changes in main semen parameters over time using multiple linear regression analyses. The sperm concentration decreased from 62.0 million/mL in 2009 to 32.0 million/mL in 2019 (P < 0.001), with an average annual rate of 3.9%. The total sperm count decreased from 160.0 million in 2009 to 80.0 million in 2019 (P < 0.001), with an average annual rate of 4.2%. The progressive motility decreased from 54.0% in 2009 to 40.0% in 2019 (P < 0.001), with an average annual rate of 2.5%. The total motility decreased from 60.0% in 2009 to 46.0% in 2019 (P < 0.001), with an average annual rate of 1.9%. Our results indicated that semen quality among sperm donor candidates had decreased during the study period in Henan Province, China. The semen analysis is the most important and the most widely used clinical laboratory test to evaluate male fertility potential. In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria had reduced the reference interval of sperm concentration from 20 to 15 million/mL. Concerns about a global decline in semen quality have attracted the attention of researchers and the general public alike. There is an ongoing debate on whether semen quality is declining. In 1992, Carlsen et al 1. reviewed 61 studies and found a worldwide decline trend in semen volume and sperm concentration between 1938 and 1991. After that, several studies have reported a decrease in semen quality in Paris 2 , Tours 3 , Marseille 4 , São Paulo 5 , Shandong 6 , Changsha 7 , and South India 8. In contrast, several other studies have reported no significant change in semen quality in Sydney 9 , Malmö 10 , Montevideo 11 , and Copenhagen 12. These discrepancies could be explained by ethnic, geographical, lifestyle, environmental and between-center variations 13-16. To accurately evaluate changes in semen quality, ethnic, geographical, and between-center variations must be taken into account 15,16. A single-center retrospective investigation of possible changes in semen quality, using the same equipment and based on a large population over a long period of time, has been recommended to minimize these confounding factors 17,18. Based on this, laboratories must conduct their local studies over a certain period of time. Large and long-term population studies on time trends in se...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A longitudinal study of semen quality among Chinese sperm donor candidates during the past 11 years

Liu

Dai

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…However, the reason for the lack of decline in sperm concentration could not be determined in this study. Possible explanations for effects on sperm production may include lifestyle factors [23], such as the higher prevalence of sedentary behaviour, sleep deficiency, and psychosocial stress among young university students. The data provided no evidence that differences in semen quality differ across geographical regions and showed that lifestyle produced diverse effects on semen quality.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Semen quality pattern and age threshold: a retrospective cross-sectional study of 71,623 infertile men in China, between 2011 and 2017

Jia

Peng

et al. 2019

Reprod Biol Endocrinol

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BackgroundThe aim of this study was to provide information on the semen quality pattern of infertile men and age thresholds for semen parameters in China.MethodsThis was a retrospective cross-sectional study investigating 71,623 infertile men from the Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC Xiangya in Hunan, China, from 2011 to 2017. The Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Kendall test, linear regression model and joinpoint regression were used.ResultsAlthough erratic changes were observed in the median semen parameters (sperm concentration 40.1–52.1 × 106/ml, total sperm count 117.8–153.1 × 106, sperm progressive motility 33.4–38.1%) during the 7 years of observation, no significant decrease in semen quality was found, and 47.88% of infertile men showed normal semen parameters according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. According to the joinpoint regression analysis, sperm progressive motility appeared to decrease earlier than the sperm concentration and total sperm count (at 28, 58, and 42 years of age, respectively).ConclusionsThere is no evidence of a deterioration in semen quality among infertile men in Hunan, China. Semen parameters decreased with increasing age, with turning points noted at different ages. Semen parameters are not absolute evidence for the assessment of male fertility potential. Therefore, we believe that, among semen parameters, the sperm concentration is the best predictor of fertility for ART, followed by motility. Decreased sperm motility may affect natural pregnancy, but it is not necessary for successful IVF.

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“…In China, a study carried out between 2001 and 2015 on 30,636 young donors reported a decrease in spermatozoa concentration from 68 × 10 6 /mL to 47 × 10 6 /mL and a reduction of spermatozoa with normal morphology from 31.8 to 10.8% [ 17 ]. Another recent study on 9357 healthy young men living in Wuhan reported a relevant decline in sperm count in only 5 years (from 2010 to 2015) [ 18 ]. Finally, a median reduction of 0.24 million/mL of spermatozoa per year was reported between 1995 and 2018 in Brazil [ 19 ].…”

Section: Sperm Decline In the Worldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Air Pollution and COVID-19: A Possible Dangerous Synergy for Male Fertility

Montano

Donato

Bianco

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Several studies indicate that semen quality has strongly declined in the last decades worldwide. Air pollution represents a significant co-factor with the COVID-19 impact and has negative effects on the male reproductive system, through pro-oxidant, inflammatory and immune-dysregulating mechanisms. It has recently been reported that chronic exposure to PM2.5 causes overexpression of the alveolar ACE2 receptor, the entry route of SARS-CoV-2 into the organism shared by the lungs and testis where expression is highest in the body. In the testis, the ACE2/Ang-(1–7)/MasR pathway plays an important role in the regulation of spermatogenesis and an indirect mechanism of testicular damage could be due to the blockade of the ACE2 receptor by SARS-CoV-2. This prevents the conversion of specific angiotensins, and their excess causes inflammation with the overproduction of cytokines. PM2.5-induced overexpression of the alveolar ACE2 receptor, in turn, could increase local viral load in patients exposed to pollutants, producing ACE2 receptor depletion and compromising host defenses. By presenting an overall view of epidemiological data and molecular mechanisms, this manuscript aims to interpret the possible synergistic effects of both air pollution and COVID-19 on male reproductive function, warning that the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the fertile years may represent a significant threat to global reproductive health. All of this should be of great concern, especially for men of the age of maximum reproductive capacity, and an important topic of debate for policy makers. Altered environmental conditions, together with the direct and indirect short- and long-term effects of viral infection could cause a worsening of semen quality with important consequences for male fertility, especially in those areas with higher environmental impact.

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Decline in semen concentration of healthy Chinese adults: evidence from 9357 participants from 2010 to 2015

Cited by 24 publications

References 46 publications

A longitudinal study of semen quality among Chinese sperm donor candidates during the past 11 years

A longitudinal study of semen quality among Chinese sperm donor candidates during the past 11 years

Semen quality pattern and age threshold: a retrospective cross-sectional study of 71,623 infertile men in China, between 2011 and 2017

Air Pollution and COVID-19: A Possible Dangerous Synergy for Male Fertility

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