Semen Quality of Male Idiopathic Infertile Smokers and Nonsmokers: An Ultrastructural Study

Abstract

This retrospective study was aimed at evaluating the effects of cigarette consumption on semen parameters in a group of men with idiopathic infertility. The semen quality of 2 groups of men with idiopathic infertility, smokers (n 5 118) and nonsmokers (n 5 153), were compared. Conventional semen analysis was performed and sperm morphology was assessed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). TEM data were elaborated by means of a mathematical formula based on a Bayesian technique able to furnish a fertility index (FI), and the percentages of sperm apoptosis, necrosis, and immaturity. Values of normality recommended by World Health Organization guidelines were used as a control for conventional semen analysis, and values from sperm of 25 men of proven fertility were used for TEM indices. Infertile smoker and nonsmoker patients showed similar sperm parameters, although sperm motility and TEM analysis values in both groups were significantly impaired compared with controls. Smoker patients were then classified as mild ($1 and #10 cigarettes/d), moderate (.10 and ,20 cigarettes/day), or heavy smokers ($20 cigarettes/d). Sperm concentration and FI were significantly (P , .05) different among the 3 considered smoker classes. Comparing the pairs of smoker classes, sperm concentration and FI in heavy smokers were significantly lower (P , .05) than that observed in mild smoker and nonsmoker groups. Although semen quality in males with idiopathic infertility seems not to be dramatically affected by cigarette consumption, heavy smokers show significantly lower sperm concentration and FI: another strong reason to stop smoking.

Apoptotic markers in semen of infertile men: association with cigarette smoking

“…These fi ndings were very ing seminal cotinine as a measure of tobacco consumption. The present fi ndings agree with those of previous studies (1,3,(25)(26)(27)(28). On the contrary, some researches reported different results (29)(30)(31)(32).…”

“…Many studies have examined the effects of cigarette smoking on male fertility and the results Different studies have assessed the relationship between smoking and semen quality ushave suggested a substantial negative impact on sperm production, motility and morphology (23)(24)(25)(26).…”

“…Hassa et al (31) added that number of cigarettes/day did not correlate with any of sperm parameters. However, Collodel et al, (26) reported that although the semen quality of males with idiopathic infertility seems to not be dramatically affected by cigarette consumption, heavy smokers show signifi cantly lower sperm concentration. They attributed this discrepancy to the small size of sample group, or to the possibility that non-smoker patients may have been exposed to second hand smoke, which can cause immediate harm (23) and in particular, to prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke which has been demonstrated to have an adverse effect on semen quality (34).…”

What is new in cryptorchidism and hypospadias—a critical review on the testicular dysgenesis hypothesis

“…Similarly, the group of cryptorchid boys where the mother was heavily smoking during pregnancy had significantly increased risk of bilateral cryptorchidism (52%) compared with the group of boys where the mother did not smoke (20%) [89]. Men who are heavy smokers show significantly lower sperm concentration and fertility index [143]. Other lifestyle factors, such as obesity, seem also to be of importance.…”

Evaluation of the association of cigarette smoking with retention of excess cytoplasm by spermatozoa in infertile men

“…Collodel et al [37] assessed morphological changes using transmission electron microscopy in idiopathic infertile male smokers compared with nonsmokers. They concluded that semen parameters were not significantly affected by smoking in cases of idiopathic infertility.…”