OBJECTIVETo study the semen quality of male infertility patients in Suzhou area, China.

METHODSWe detected the semen quality of 2 640 infertility patients in Suzhou area using computer-assisted semen analysis technology.

RESULTSOf the 2 640 semen samples, 27.35% were found normal in all seminal indexes, 47.35% (1 250/2 640) abnormal in the percentage of grade a + b sperm, and 42.39% (1 119/2 640) abnormal in sperm motility. The percentage of grade a + b sperm and sperm motility were decreased with the increase of age, more obviously in those over 40 years. The incidences of asthenospermia and oligospermia were 37.31% (985/2 640) and 8.94% (236/2 640), rising with the increase of age, especially in those older than 30 years. The 9 sperm motion parameters, including VSL, VCL, LIN, MAD, VAP, STR, WOB, ALH and BCF, were significantly reduced with the decrease of sperm motility and sperm concentration.

CONCLUSIONThe infertile men in Suzhou area are mainly characterized by a decrease in sperm motility, especially in the percentage of grade a + b sperm. The correlation of age with sperm motility and incidence of asthenospermia and oligospermia suggests that men also have an appropriate childbearing age.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infection is the most prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial disease worldwide. However, unlike that in female infertility, the role of CT infection in male infertility remains controversial. The objective of this retrospective study was to explore the impacts of CT infection in the genital tract on sperm quality, sperm acrosin activity, antisperm antibody levels, and inflammation in a large cohort of infertile males in China. A total of 7154 semen samples were collected from infertile male subjects, 416 of whom were CT positive (CT+ group) and 6738 of whom were CT negative (CT- group), in our hospital between January 2016 and December 2018. Routine semen parameters (semen volume, pH, sperm concentration, viability, motility, morphology, etc.), granulocyte elastase levels, antisperm antibody levels, and sperm acrosin activity were compared between the CT+ and CT- groups. Our results showed that CT infection was significantly correlated with an abnormally low semen volume, as well as an increased white blood cell count and granulocyte elastase level (all P < 0.05) in the semen of infertile males; other routine semen parameters were not negatively impacted. The antisperm antibody level and sperm acrosin activity were not affected by CT infection. These findings suggested that CT infection might contribute to inflammation and hypospermia but does not impair sperm viability, motility morphology, and acrosin activity or generate antisperm antibodies in the infertile males of China.
Chlamydia trachomatis ; Female ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Infertility, Male/epidemiology* ; Inflammation/epidemiology* ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Semen ; Spermatozoa

BACKGROUNDInfertility is one of the most important and underappreciated reproductive health problems in developing countries. However, epidemiological data in the Chinese population are still sparse. The aim of the present study was to determine the current prevalence and prevalence trend of infertility in Beijing, and to identify the risk factors associated with infertility.

METHODSThis cross-sectional study was conducted in Beijing in 2012. A stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 12 448 couples of whom the female partners were born between 1955 and 1985. All subjects were interviewed face to face. Infertility was defined as the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse.

RESULTSOf the 12 448 couples, 12 342 (99.1%) answered the questions appropriately. The prevalence of infertility was 4.2% (3.1% as primary and 1.1% as secondary infertility). An increase in the prevalence of infertility according to the age of the female partner was found: 1.3% infertility for married females born in the 1950s and 11.4% for married females born in the 1980s. The increase was found in both urban and suburban areas. In addition, a Logistic regression showed that for the female partner, higher education levels, an older age at first marriage, adverse occupational conditions, mental labor and pre-pregnancy contraception after marriage were all significantly associated with a higher risk of infertility.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of infertility has increased significantly among couples in Beijing, possibly because of an interaction among multiple factors.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

AIMTo determine whether there was any regional variation in the prevalence of azoospermia, oligozoospermia and mean sperm counts in male partners of infertile couples from different parts of India.

METHODSData on 16,714 semen samples analyzed over the past five years from six different laboratories located in five cities of India were collated and evaluated.

RESULTSThere was a regional variation in the prevalence of azoospermia. The prevalence of azoospermia was extremely high in Kurnool and Jodhpur (38.3% and 37.4%, respectively). There was also a regional variation in the prevalence of oligozoospermia (51%) in Kurnool. There was no significant difference in the mean sperm counts in normospermic men.

CONCLUSIONThere is a regional variation in the prevalence of azoospermia and oligozoospermia in the male partners of infertile couples from different regions of India. The prevalence of azoospermia in Kurnool and Jodhpur is higher than any other worldwide reported literature. Further studies need to be carried out to determine the cause of this.

Cottonseed Oil ; adverse effects ; Fluorides ; adverse effects ; Humans ; India ; epidemiology ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; Male ; Oligospermia ; epidemiology ; Pesticides ; adverse effects ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVESTo determine the level of anti-Toxoplasma antibody in serum of infertile couples to explore the relationship between toxoplasma infection and infertility.

METHODSEnzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect the anti-Toxoplasma antibody, antisperm antibody (AsAb) and anticardiolipin antibody (ACA) in serum of 178 couples with infertility and 190 couples who had normal pregnant history.

RESULTSThe positive result of Toxoplasma infection in the infertile couples was significantly higher than that in fertile couples which was 34.83% vs 12.11% (chi 2 = 26.72, P < 0.01) with the odds ratio 3.88. The positive result of serum AsAb in the Toxoplasma infected group was significantly higher than that in the no Toxoplasma infected group (32.50% vs 15.94%, chi 2 = 10.76, P < 0.01) with the odds ratio 2.54.

CONCLUSIONSToxoplasma infection was related to infertility. The Toxoplasma infection and was posibly related to the antisperm antibodies which can be involved in the pathogenisis of infertility.

Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; etiology ; parasitology ; Male ; Toxoplasma ; Toxoplasmosis ; complications ; epidemiology ; parasitology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between Ureaplasma urealyticum infection and infertility in Chinese males.

METHODSAccording to the results of the heterogeneity test, a comprehensive quantitative analysis was made of 49 papers on Ureaplasma urealyticum infection and Chinese male infertility by RevMan 4.2.2. The impacts of different sample volumes on the research findings were compared, and the sensitivities of culture and PCR detections analyzed respectively.

RESULTSUreaplasma urealyticum had a significant negative impact on Chinese male fertility. Based on different samples of literature, two rounds of screening and analysis were carried out and two different conclusions derived. The first was OR = 4.43 (95% CI: 3.77-5.22), with the OR values of culture and PCR detections as 4.25 (95% CI: 3.59-5.03) and 5.35 (95% CI: 3.37-8.47), and the second was OR = 4.28 (95% CI: 3.52-5.20), with the OR values of culture and PCR detections as 4.24 (95% CI: 3.41-5.28) and 4.42 (95% CI: 2.73-7.17).

CONCLUSIONThere is a significant correlation between Ureaplasma urealyticum and Chinese male infertility. The conclusion of study is significantly influenced by the sample volume, which should be reasonably designed. The sensitivity of PCR detection is higher than that of culture detection.

China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ureaplasma Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Ureaplasma urealyticum ; genetics ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the fertility of infertile males of large samples by the routine semen examination, and to provide a scientific basis for clinical treatment of male infertility and improve efficacy. METHODS: We collected 16 835 semen specimens of infertile man in our hospital (the infertility group), and 1 567 semen specimens of sperm donating candidates from the sperm bank of our hospital (the control group). Semen routine examination was performed by computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) technology, and the data of semen routine examination were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The infertile patients with semen abnormalities in our hospital mainly suffered asthenospermia. The proportion of azoospermia, asthenospermia and oligoasthenospermia in the infertility group was higher than that in the control group, while the proportion of oligozoospermia was lower than that in the control group (P<0.001). CONCLUSION Azoospermia, asthenospermia and oligoasthenospermia are related to infertility, but simply oligozoospermia is not necessarily related to infertility.
Asthenozoospermia ; Azoospermia ; China ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; Male ; Oligospermia ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Spermatozoa ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between the digit length ratio (DLR) and male fertility in Ningxia.

METHODSUsing an electronic sliding caliper, we measured the lengths of the index finger (D2), middle finger (D3), ring finger (D4) and little finger (D5) of both the right and left hand of 136 infertile males in Ningxia, 45 of them with normal and the other 91 with abnormal semen, including 28 cases of oligozoospermia, 10 cases of obstructive azoospermia (OA) and 53 cases of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). We calculated the DLRs of D2:D3, D2:D4, D2:D5, D3:D4, D3:D5 and D4:D5 and compared them among different groups.

RESULTSThe mean values of FLR presented a pattern of D2:D3 < D2:D4 < D3:D4 < D2:D5 < D4:D5 in the infertile males. DLRs of D2:D3, D2:D4, D2:D5, D3:D5 and D4:D5 of the right hand were significantly higher in the abnormal than in the normal semen group (t = 2.56, 2.48, 3.57, 2.85, 2.53; P < 0.05); those of D2:D3, D2:D4, D2:D5 and D4:D5 of the right hand presented a pattern of NOA > oligozoospermia > OA > normal semen group, while that of D3:D5 presented a pattern of NOA > OA > oligozoospermia > normal semen group. The NOA group showed a significantly higher DLR of the right hand than the normal semen group in D2:D3, D2:D4, D3:D5 and D4:D5, the oligozoospermia group in D2:D4, D3:D5 and D4:D5, and the OA group in D2:D3 (P < 0.05). The D4:D5 DLR of the right hand was remarkably higher in the Han than in the Hui ethnic group (t = 2.01, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHigher DLRs of D2:D3, D2:D4, D2:D5, D3:D5 and D4:D5 of the right hand were associated with lower fertility in infertile males in Ningxia. And the D4:D5 FLRs of the right hand may be different between Hui and Han infertile men in Ningxia.

Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; Fertility ; Fingers ; anatomy & histology ; Hand ; anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; epidemiology ; Male ; Young Adult

This study aims to compare the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) with semen quality in men from couples with primary and secondary infertility. Semen samples were collected from 133 men who requested fertility evaluation. Seminal tract infection with Ureaplasma spp. (UU), Mycoplasma hominis (MH), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), and herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) was assessed by PCR-based diagnostic assays. Among all patients, the prevalence of STIs was higher in men from couples with primary infertility than that in men from couples with secondary infertility (39.7% vs 21.7%, P = 0.03). The prevalence of UU was 28.8% and 13.3% in men from couples with primary and secondary infertility, respectively. Men from couples with primary infertility were more likely to be positive for UU than men from couples with secondary infertility (P = 0.04). Regarding the UU subtype, the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uuu) and Ureaplasma parvum (Uup; including Uup1, Uup3, Uup6, and Uup14) did not differ between the two groups. No associations between the prevalence rates of MH, MG, and CT were found in men from either infertility group. A lower sperm concentration was associated with STI pathogen positivity in men with primary infertility according to the crude model (P = 0.04). The crude and adjusted models showed that semen volume (both P = 0.03) and semen leukocyte count (both P = 0.02) were independently associated with secondary infertility. These findings suggest the importance of classifying the type of infertility during routine diagnosis of seminal tract infections.
Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male/epidemiology* ; Male ; Mycoplasma genitalium ; Mycoplasma hominis ; Prevalence ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases/epidemiology* ; Ureaplasma urealyticum

OBJECTIVETo study the mental health status of infertility patients with varicocele and its relationship with infertility.

METHODSUsing Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD), we assessed the psychological status of 110 infertility patients with varicocele, identified the risk factors of anxiety and depression in these patients, and analyzed the correlation among psychological and other relevant factors. Meanwhile, we recruited 61 age-matched normal fertile men as controls for comparative analysis. We also conducted logistic regression analysis on the mental health status of the 106 infertility patients with varicocele.

RESULTSThe prevalence rates of anxiety were 61.32% and 13.79%, while those of depression 37.73% and 6.90% in the infertile patients and normal fertile controls, respectively, significantly higher in the former than in the latter (P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the main risk factors of anxiety and depression of the infertile patients were the number of times they sought medical care and the severity of their testis disorders.

CONCLUSIONInfertility patients with varicocele have psychological disorders, which are particularly associated with the frequency of the patients' clinic visit and the severity of their testis disorders.

Adult ; Anxiety Disorders ; epidemiology ; Case-Control Studies ; Depression ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; complications ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Varicocele ; complications ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Young Adult