AIMTo evaluate the association between selected potential socio-demographic and behavioral risk factors and infertility in Nigerian men.

METHODSThere were two groups in this study. One group consisted of 150 men with proven male infertility, and the other consisted of 150 fertile men with normal semen parameters. Both were matched for age, place of residence and key socio-demographic variables. They were compared for sexual history, past medical and surgical history, past exposures to sexually transmitted infections and treatment, past and current use of drugs as well as smoking and alcohol intake history.

RESULTSInfertile men were significantly more likely than fertile men to report having experienced penile discharge, painful micturition and genital ulcers, less likely to seek treatment for these symptoms and more likely to seek treatment with informal sector providers. Multivariate analysis showed that male infertility was significantly associated with bacteria in semen cultures, self-reporting of previous use of traditional medications and moderate to heavy alcohol intake, but not with smoking and occupational types.

CONCLUSIONINFERTILITY is associated with various proxies of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and poor healthcare-seeking behavior for STIs in Nigerian men.

Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; ethnology ; Case-Control Studies ; Culture ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; ethnology ; microbiology ; psychology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nigeria ; epidemiology ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; ethnology ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Risk-Taking ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases ; complications ; ethnology ; psychology ; Smoking ; ethnology