Andrological parameters in men with high sperm counts and possible correlation with age

The Effect of Age on Semen Quality Among Male Partners of Infertile Couples: An Observational Study in a Tertiary Care Center in Eastern India

INTRODUCTION

Male infertility contributes to a significant proportion of infertility cases, and advanced paternal age has been suggested to affect semen quality and fertility. However, the relationship between age and semen quality remains inconclusive, with conflicting findings reported in the literature. This study aimed to investigate the effect of age on semen quality among male partners of infertile couples in a tertiary care center in eastern India.

METHODS

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted, involving 390 male participants aged 21-50 years, who were referred to the andrology laboratory for semen analysis between January 2019 and December 2022. Participants were categorized into three age groups (21-30, 31-40, and 41-50 years). Semen parameters, including sperm concentration, semen volume, motility, and morphology, were assessed according to the World Health Organization guidelines.

RESULTS

Among the participants, no significant differences were observed in semen volume, motility, and morphology across different age groups. However, a statistically significant difference in sperm concentration among the three age groups was observed (p = 0.022). Spearman correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between age and sperm concentration (r = 0.124, p = 0.013) as well as total sperm count (r = 0.10, p = 0.049).

CONCLUSION

In this study, no significant decline in semen quality with age was found among male partners of infertile couples aged 21-50 years. These findings highlight the complex relationship between age and semen quality and emphasize the need for further research to better understand the underlying mechanisms and provide more conclusive evidence regarding the impact of age on male fertility.

The Disappearing Sperms: Analysis of Reports Published Between 1980 and 2015

Reports regarding the changes in sperm concentration in different counties of the world are inconsistent. Furthermore, the reports that sprung up from specific epidemiological and experimental examinations did not include data of prior studies or geographical variations. The current study, following a previous report of massive fall in semen volume over the past 33 years, attempts to delineate the trend of altering sperm concentrations and factors responsible for this by reviewing article published from 1980 to July 2015 with geographic differences. The current study identified an overall 57% diminution in mean sperm concentration over the past 35 years ( r = -.313, p = .0002), which, when analyzed for each geographical region, identified a significant decline in North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. An increasing trend of sperm concentration was identified only in Australia. The association of male age with such a trend ( R² = .979) is reported. The authors also correlated male fertility with sperm concentration. Thus, this comprehensive, evidence-based literature review aims to concisely and systematically present the available data on sperm concentration from 1980 to 2015, as well as to statistically analyze the same and correlate male health with the declining pattern of sperm count in a single scientific review to serve the scientific research zone related to reproductive health. It points to the threat of male infertility in times ahead.

Male age influences oocyte-donor program results

BACKGROUND

The purpose of our research was to examine the relationship between male age and semen parameters in a range of ages (from 20s to 60s) in Egg Donation Program (EDP) cycles. EDP provides a pool of high quality oocytes, thus allowing better analysis of the sperm efficacy.

DISCUSSION

The retrospective study population consisted of 484 male partners of patients undergoing EDP in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. A comparison was made of male age and sperm parameters within two groups: cycles resulting in a pregnancy (pregnant group) and cycles which failed to achieve a pregnancy (non-pregnant group). The men involved in the pregnant group were found to be significantly younger 43.2 +/- 8.1 than those of the nonpregnant group 46.81 +/- 7.8 (p = 0.003). Analysis of sperm morphology revealed a significant prevalence of teratozoospermia in males of the non-pregnant group, as compared to the males of the pregnant group (29% vs. 11%, respectively). The results also demonstrate that sperm parameters are apparently not diminished until men reach the age of 40. However, between 40-50 years old semen parameters deteriorate. Male age was found to be related to a reduction in sperm strict criteria: 44.8 in normozoospermia, 47.9 (p = 0.02), 48.4 (p = 0.04) and 51.9 (p = 0.001) years old in mild teratozoospermia, moderate teratozoospermia and severe teratozoospermia, respectively. Additionally, the results showed that the percentage of "healthy" embryos on day 3 of embryo culture was lower in the non-pregnant group (26%), as compared with the pregnant group (34%; p = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Our study confirms that sperm parameters are reduced by age and suggests that this age-dependent effect could be a reason for failures in IVF cycles even in EDP couples.

Quantitative effects of male age on sperm motion

BACKGROUND

Semen quality is associated with fertility status, but there is little quantitative information on risk factors that affect semen quality, especially in non-clinical populations. Advancing male age has been associated with a decline in semen quality, with the largest effect being on sperm motility. However, there is little quantitative data on the specific components of sperm motion that are affected by male age.

METHODS

We performed linear regression analyses of 14 aspects of semen quality measured by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) in a non-clinical cohort of 90 non-smoking men, aged 22-80 years, who had no history of infertility or reproductive problems.

RESULTS

We found age-associated declines in CASA-determined motility (% motile, 0.8% per year; % progressively motile, 0.9% per year; % rapidly motile, 0.4% per year, P <or= 0.001) and three quantitative aspects of sperm motion [linearity (LIN), 0.2% per year; straight line velocity (VSL), 0.2% per year, and average path velocity (VAP), 0.3% per year, P < 0.05], with no evidence for age thresholds and no significant association with abstinence duration. Age was not significantly associated with amplitude of lateral head (ALH) displacement, beat cross frequency (BCF) and nuclear elongation or size.

CONCLUSIONS

Quantitative analysis of sperm motion indicates that as men age, they produce fewer motile sperm, which are able to travel less along a linear path, thus covering less forward distance per unit time. These findings may have fertility implications for men who choose to delay fatherhood.

Effects of male age on semen quality and fertility: a review of the literature

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature on the association between male age and semen quality (semen volume, concentration, motility, and morphology) and fertility status (pregnancy rate and time to pregnancy/subfecundity).

METHOD(S)

Review of English language-published research over the last 20 years from January 1, 1980, through December 31, 1999, using MEDLINE and Biosis databases. Studies with insufficient numbers of subjects, case reports, case series, or anecdotal data were excluded.

RESULT(S)

Among the methodologically stronger studies, decreases in semen volume of 3%-22%, decreases in sperm motility of 3%-37%, and decreases in percent normal sperm of 4%-18% were likely when comparing 30-year-old men to 50-year-old men. Most studies examining fertility status suggest a relationship between male age and fertility, but the results are most likely confounded by female partner age. Among studies that did control for female age, comparisons between men under 30 and men over 50 found relative decreases in pregnancy rates between 23% and 38%. A comparison of the various age categories showed that the increased risks for subfecundity ranged from 11% to 250%.

CONCLUSION(S)

The weight of the evidence suggests that increased male age is associated with a decline in semen volume, sperm motility, and sperm morphology but not with sperm concentration.

Seminal fructose levels in male infertility: relationship with sperm characteristics

The relationship between seminal fructose concentration and sperm characteristics was investigated in semens of 187 suspected infertile men without evidence of disturbances in the seminal vesicular function. Sperm density, viability, motility, morphologically oval sperm, and 10 categories of defective spermatozoa (small, large, amorphous, round-head, double-head, pin-head, tapering, mid-piece defects, tail defects, and combined defects) were assessed in 6 levels of seminal fructose concentration, as follows: (1) 0 to 1.0 mg/ml; (2) 1.1 to 2.0 mg/ml; (3) 2.1 to 3.0 mg/ml; (4) 3.1 to 4.0 mg/ml; (5) 4.1 to 5.0 mg/ml; (6) >5.0 mg/ml. None of the sperm characteristics analyzed had shown statistically significant differences among the study groups. It is concluded that seminal fructose levels detected in the routine of semen analysis give no information on the clinical usefulness in defective sperm formation.

Sperm morphology and motility in different age populations

A prospective study of 77 semen specimens was conducted by routine examination of patients reporting to our laboratory for sterility problems. Abnormal spermatozoa were found mostly in patients over 40 years of age. The most frequent head abnormality was angulation of head (found in 94% of patients) and the most frequent tail abnormality was bent jail (found in 90% of patients). Immature spermatozoa were noted mostly in patients over 40 years of age. Motile sperm concentration was higher in patients up to 26 years of age. However, there was a remarkable heterogeneity of routine andrological parameters within the examined groups.