Pattern of semen analysis in male partners of infertile couples in Western Ethiopia: Retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objectives: This study assesses the pattern of semen analysis results in male partners of infertile couples at Gimbie Adventist Hospital, Western Ethiopia, 2021. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study on 131 semen samples of male partners of infertile couples was conducted at Gimbie Adventist Hospital from 5 September 2021 to 5 October 2021. All semen samples were processed and analyzed according to methods and standards outlined by the World Health Organization laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen 2010. The data were coded and entered into EpiData version 3.1, and then cleaned and exported to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS for Windows version 25) for analysis. The results were presented in tables, figures, and charts. Results: The age of study participants ranges from 20 to 65 years with a mean age of 30.2 ± 8.1 years. Sperm cell count, morphology, total motility, and vitality below the World Health Organization reference level were found in 48.9%, 27.5%, 43.5%, and 67.2% of the analyzed samples, respectively. Low power of hydrogen and high viscosity were observed in 31.3% and 16.8% of the semen samples, respectively. The majority, 84%, had one or more abnormal semen analysis parameters. Asthenozoospermia (43.5%), necrozoospermia (25.2%), oligozoospermia (24%), azoospermia (24%), and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (25.2%) were the severe forms of abnormal semen analysis findings detected in this study. The decline in sperm cell morphology and motility were noticed after the age of 31–34 years. Conclusion: In this study, both sperm quantity and quality were more affected when compared to similar studies. Only 16% of analyzed samples had normal semen parameters. Given this finding, identifying risk factors and introducing advanced diagnostic modalities for the workup of male infertility in the study area are highly recommended.

Fertility-enhancing effect of oil-based contrast agents during hysterosalpingography and the variation of this effect within a 3-year follow-up period in infertile patients

“…Even though a re-analysis of this finding was based on the menstrual cycles, a similar result was also shown. These phenomena could be explained as follows: (1) many reasons might cause infertile in women, such as BMI, smoke (in men), maternal immune disorder, asthenozoospermia (from the male couple), and fallopian tube diseases ( 19 – 22 ). A single-time HSG with oil-based contrast agents might only improve some of these issues, including the maternal immune environment and flushing the tubules; apart from that, patients might also put forward some arrangements to cope with other infertile-related issues after HSG, such as losing weight, stopping smoking, and semen quality improvement.…”