Observations in Infertile African Males at an Andrology Clinic in South Africa

Abstract

The major cause of infertility among black Africans is traditionally attributed to a female factor and few reports are available on the male factor. This study analyzed the clinical and seminal data obtained from a population of 1726 suspected infertile African men evaluated from July 1985 to June 1991. The possible cause of infertility was judged on the results of first semen analysis. Of these men, 49% were secondarily infertile and 36% had previously received treatment for a urethral discharge. Varicocoeles were present in 183 cases (11%) and 11% had serological evidence of previous exposure to syphilis. Azoospermia was present in 152 patients (9%), 5% had polizoospermia, 45% had hypospermia (< 2 mL) and 9% (> 6 mL) had hyperspermia. In 70% of patients a possible contributing male factor for infertility was found. It would appear that the male factor contributed significantly to infertility, and evaluation of the black African male can therefore be regarded as a rewarding venture.

Profil spermiologique des hommes infertiles au Mali

“…Bornman et al [2] Parmi les causes multiples de I'azoospermie, nous pouvons citer les s~quelles d'infections uro-g6nitales telles que la gonococcie, la bilharziose urinaire et d'autres infections sexuellement transmissibles qui repr6sentent 64,5% des antecedents infectieux chez nos patients. Dans la litt~rature, il existe tr6s peu de documents sur I'implication directe de la bilharziose urinaire dans I'infertilite masculine [11,17].…”

Profiles of the semen analyses of male partners of infertile couples in a Nigerian population

“…Given the fact that the males hardly present for investigations, it may be that most of the men that come forward for investigations are those that have reasons to believe that they have a problem and that may explain the high rate of abnormality found among them. This high rate of abnormality was also the experience of Borman et al who found possible contribution from the male partners in over 70% of their subjects [2].…”

“…It is commonly believed in most parts of the third world that the cause of infertility lies entirely with the woman [2]. As a result of this, the male partners hardly present for investigations, instead some of them will take on new wives because polygamy is still widespread in the region.…”

“…Gynecologists practicing in most parts of the third world have problems with infertile couple's investigations, because of the general belief that the cause of infertility lies in the female [1,2]. This is further compounded by the fact that polygamy is common among the populace.…”

Semen parameters in polyzoospermic men

“…Сходные с нашими результатами данные опубликованы для Германии -1,75 % среди мужчин, вступивших в цикл экстракорпорального оплодотворения (ЭКО) [29], и Пакистана -0,9 % среди мужчин с бесплодием [30]. Более высокая распространенность полизооспермии у мужчин с бесплодием описана для США -4,2 % [12], Южной Африки -5 % [31] и Мексики -13 % [32]. К сожалению, возможное влияние различных средовых и генетических факторов на частоту полизооспермии не изучено.…”