Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Sperm Count”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,027 records · Page 57Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of freezing and storage on seminal immunoreactive prolactin.

Thirteen subjects were studied to compare changes in seminal immunoreactive prolactin produced by storage and freezing of semen and seminal plasma separated within 2 hours of ejaculation. Seminal prolactin was significantly higher in semen than in seminal plasma (paired t test, t = 3.29, p less than 0.005). The difference in prolactin between the two values correlated with sperm count (linear regression analysis, r = 0.65, p less than 0.02). This study suggested that variations in reported correlations between sperm count and seminal prolactin might be explained in part by the time interval of semen collection, centrifugation, and/or freezing.

Centrifugation↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Morphology of spermatozoa in infertile men with and without varicocele.

This study was carried out to evaluate the morphology of spermatozoa in infertile men with and without varicocele. A series of 285 ejaculates were fully evaluated for seminal volume, sperm count, motility, and morphology, and classified into fertile (165 subjects), infertile without varicocele (93 subjects) and infertile with varicocele (27 subjects). Sperm morphology was classified by multiple entry criteria and recorded as normal, abnormal with head, midpiece, or tail single anomaly or abnormal with simultaneous multiple abnormalities. Semen volume was almost identical in the three groups. Among the infertile men, sperm count was lower in those having a varicocele, but conversely those with varicocele had a higher percentage of motile spermatozoa, higher percentage of spermatozoa with forward movement and higher sperm velocity. There were higher proportions of spermatozoa with abnormal morphology, total number of anomalies, and multiple anomalies in infertile men, both with and without varicocele, than in fertile men. The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa was higher in infertile men with varicocele than in those without varicocele. The pattern of sperm morphology differed between the infertile and the fertile group, and with the presence or absence of varicocele. In the presence of varicocele, only the incidence of elongated (tapered) forms was significantly increased.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Accessory sperm as an indication of fertilizing ability of rabbit spermatozoa frozen in egg yolk-acetamide with detergent.

Many factors besides initial semen quality affect fertilization rates as sperm interact with the environment of the female reproductive tract. One of these factors is sperm transport, which can be evaluated by accessory sperm counts. Dutch rabbits were used to test the effects on sperm transport, fertilization, and production of young when sodium and triethanolamine lauryl sulfate (STLS) detergent was added to a medium for sperm cryopreservation. When STLS was added in 10 concentrations ranging from 0% to 2.0% (vol/vol) to an egg yolk-acetamide semen extender, optimal post-thaw motility of rabbit sperm occurred when 0.2% to 0.7% STLS was included. However, when 0%, 0.2%, and 0.7% STLS was included to cryopreserve sperm used for insemination, the fertilization rates were 95%, 68%, and 75%, and the corresponding mean numbers of accessory sperm per embryo were 13.1, 1.7, and 0.4 (P < .05). In another experiment, increasing the acetamide concentration from 0.75 M to 1.25 M decreased fertilization rates from 66% to 35%, and was associated with 4.5 and 0.6 accessory sperm per embryo (P < .05). In the final experiment, 48 does inseminated with sperm cryopreserved with 0%, 0.35%, and 0.70% STLS were allowed to produce young. Corresponding pregnancy rates were 56%, 56%, and 31% (P < .05), and litter sizes were 5.6, 4.1, and 4.2 (P > .05). In these studies, low concentrations of STLS improved motility of frozen-thawed sperm, but fertilization and pregnancy rates were reduced. Sperm transport was correspondingly reduced, and the accessory sperm count provided a reliable measure of the effect of STLS on fertility in contrast to the assessment of the percentage of motile sperm.

Acetamides↗
PubMed1984

Male reproductive capacity may recover following drug treatment with the L-10 protocol for acute lymphocytic leukemia.

Six men with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) were studied prospectively to assess the effect of treatment with the L-10 protocol on reproductive capacity. Before therapy three men had fathered children (two, two children; one, three children); the others were sexually mature although no fertility studies had been done prior to or during their treatment. Each patient had a minimum of 3 1/2 years of continuous chemotherapy as part of this study. Semen analysis was done 10 to 52 months (median, 31.5 months) after completion of therapy. One patient had lower than normal sperm concentration but near normal total sperm count and normal motility; the others had a normal sperm concentration and motility. Sperm nuclei were isolated from each sample and analyzed by flow cytometry for resistance to DNA denaturation in situ; all samples had relatively high resistance to denaturation, consistent with a normal, fertile reproductive status. After completion of therapy, one patient fathered a normal child, and a second patient fathered one child with multiple congenital malformations followed by a second child who was normal.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

The lack of discriminant seminal and endocrine variables in the partners of fertile and infertile women.

Seminal and endocrinological investigations were done on 50 fertile men whose wives became pregnant spontaneously (Group I), on 100 men from our fertility clinic whose wives conceived after treatment of the couple (Group II) and in 100 infertile men whose wives failed to become pregnant even after 5-year treatment of the couple (Group III). Patients with azoospermia were excluded. While there were no significant differences in the mean sperm density and total sperm count of the men from all three groups, mean sperm motility and sperm morphology were significantly better (p less than 0.001) in both Group I and Group II men than in the infertile Group III men. The mean serum LH and FSH concentrations were significantly lower in Group I than in the two other groups. However, there were no differences between Groups II and III. The mean serum concentrations of prolactin, testosterone, and estradiol were similar in all three groups. Based on semen and hormone data, stepwise multiple discriminant analysis could allocate 80% of the Group I men correctly, whereas only 50% of Groups II and III could be correctly classified. Although overall differences in sperm motility and morphology as well as in serum gonadotrophin concentrations were noted, no specific seminal or hormonal variable could be identified as being of value in predicting the fertility of an individual man.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Macroscopic vasovasostomy re-examined.

Results of 273 consecutive macroscopic vasovasostomy procedures performed at a single institution over a nine-year period between 1978 and 1987 were reviewed. When patients operated on less than five years after vasectomy were compared with those in whom more than five years had elapsed since vasectomy, significant declines in technical success rates as measured by return of sperm to the ejaculate (93% vs. 74%, p less than 0.004), biologic recovery as measured by mean sperm counts (55 million vs. 35 million) and mean progressive sperm motility (30% vs. 13%), and clinical success as measured by pregnancy rates (52% vs. 30%, p less than 0.02), were observed. Examination of complications of vasovasostomy showed a 7.7 percent overall complication rate and a 1.5 percent incidence of major complications.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Deterioration of sperm quality in young healthy Belgian men.

We have retrospectively analysed the sperm characteristics of 416 consecutive healthy young men who presented themselves in the past 19 years as candidate sperm donors. Ejaculate volume increased slightly (P = 0.067), and average sperm concentration decreased (P = 0.035) by 12.4 x 10(6)/ml over the observation period, so that sperm count per ejaculate remained unchanged (P = 0.91). In contrast, sperm morphology (r = - 0.23, P < 0.0001), rapid progressive motility (r = - 0.42, P < 0.0001) and total motility (r = - 0.33, P < 0.0001) presented an important and time-related decrease. When a quadratic model was used rather than a linear one to analyse the data on rapid progressive motility, there appeared to have been no further decline since 1990. The average proportion of spermatozoa with normal morphology decreased from 39.2% in the period 1977-1980 to 26.6% in 1990-1995 (P < 0.0001), and the mean percentage of spermatozoa with rapid progressive motility decreased from 52.7 to 31.7% (P < 0.0001). The percentage of candidate donors with sperm characteristics below the 5th percentile cut-off value of a normal fertile population increased from 13 to 54% during the observation period (P < 0.0001). Since the technique of semen analysis has remained essentially unchanged in-so-far as has been practically possible, as has the method of recruitment of candidate sperm donors, the observed deterioration of sperm characteristics is considered to reflect degeneration of sperm production among men aged between 20 and 40 years.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Semen quality in papaya workers with long term exposure to ethylene dibromide.

To examine whether long term occupational exposure to ethylene dibromide (EDB) affects semen quality a cross sectional study of semen quality was conducted among 46 men employed in the papaya fumigation industry in Hawaii, with an average duration of exposure of five years and a geometric mean breathing zone exposure to airborne EDB of 88 ppb (eight hour time weighted average) and peak exposures of up to 262 ppb. The comparison group consisted of 43 unexposed men from a nearby sugar refinery. Statistically significant decreases in sperm count per ejaculate, the percentage of viable and motile sperm, and increases in the proportion of sperm with specific morphological abnormalities (tapered heads, absent heads, and abnormal tails) were observed among exposed men by comparison with controls after consideration of smoking, caffeine and alcohol consumption, subject's age, abstinence, history of urogenital disorders, and other potentially confounding variables. No effect of exposure to EDB on sperm velocity, the overall proportion of sperm with normal morphology, or YFF bodies was observed. These data strongly suggest that EDB may increase the risk of reproductive impairment in workers at exposure levels near the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommended limit of 45 ppb (as an eight hour time weighted average) and far below the current standard of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of 20 ppm.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Influence of serum prolactin on semen characteristics and sperm function.

The role of serum prolactin (sPRL) in male infertility is still unclear. For assessing the clinical significance of prolactin determination during infertility investigation, serum samples of 204 males attending the Infertility Clinic of Heidelberg were examined during a 1-year period. None of the patients exhibited galactorrhoea or complained of impotence. Results were correlated with age, duration of infertility, sperm count, motility, morphology, viability, and other parameters of routine sperm analysis and postcoital testing (PCT). Additionally, in vitro sperm penetration testing (SCMPT) in cervical mucus of partners and donors was performed as an important measure of functional sperm capacity. The subsequent pregnancy rate was determined after 6 months. Prolactin levels ranged from 1.4 to 24.7 ng/mL, with a median of 5 ng/mL. Only one patient had prolactin levels out of the normal range (greater than 20 ng/mL). No significant correlation of sPRL concentration was found with results of semen analysis, PCT outcome, or SCMPT. The functional sperm capacity was better in the groups of patients with sPRL above the median level (P less than .005). No significant difference in pregnancy rate was found between the high (greater than 5 ng/mL) and low (less than or equal to 5 ng/mL) prolactin groups; these were 20% and 26%, respectively. The results suggest that routine screening of asymptomatic male patients during infertility investigation for sPRL concentration is not helpful for assessing fertility prognosis. Prolactin should be preferentially determined in patients with clinical symptoms of hyperprolactinemia to exclude pituitary adenoma.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Varicocele: medical and surgical treatment.

Varicocele is the most frequent finding in male infertility. Thirty percent of infertile male patients requesting treatment present with varicocele. Between December 1971 and December 1984, 151 infertile patients presenting varicocele were treated in this study: 28 underwent medical treatment, 38 surgical treatment, and 23 both medical and surgical treatment. The spermograms of all the patients were studied before and after treatment. The following variables were considered: volume, sperm count, percentages of general motility and of grade III sperm, and of oval forms. There was not a significant statistical difference in the analysis of the spermogram parameters before and after treatment in the three groups. The pregnancy rate for the medical-surgical group was 60.9% and for the surgical group 47.4%--not a statistically significant difference. The purely medically treated group had a pregnancy rate of 25%, which is significantly lower than the other groups.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Fertility in cryptorchidism. Does treatment make a difference?

The testis which remains nonscrotal beyond puberty will not produce sperm. While much of the data presented imply that therapy of cryptorchidism during childhood will decrease the likelihood of infertility, the available data do not substantiate this. There are also inadequate data to indicate whether treatment at very young ages in childhood decreases the risk of infertility. In fact, it is not clear that fertility rates among males who were unilaterally cryptorchid is different than that of the unaffected male population! Therefore, verification is needed to determine whether or not fertility is decreased in cryptorchidism. Paternity is a better index for verification than sperm counts since it is known that men with subnormal sperm counts may have normal paternity rates. Such verification using paternity may require more than fathering a child, such as the age of the father at the birth of the first child, length of marriage or partnership before birth of the first or subsequent children, or duration of intercourse without contraception to birth. Because of the multiple etiologies of the cryptorchid state, factors such as the relative size of the testis before treatment, and the position of the testis and the histology of the testis need to be considered since the small testis, the abdominal testis and the testis with the most histologic changes would appear to be at the greatest risk for defects in spermatogenesis. Until these data become available, most physicians are likely to recommend treatment of the undescended testis when detected if the child is older than six months. However, it must be remembered that there are no data to indicate benefit of early treatment. Before treatment is initiated, the physician must be careful to rule out a retractile testis. Also, the possibility of ascent of the testis which may occur during midchildhood, the age of physiologically normal hypogonadotropism, must be remembered. The testis which was previously normally descended but resides much of the time during midchildhood years within the inguinal canal may be a variant of normal and not require therapy. The approach to the patient with cryptorchidism must involve a careful history and repeated examinations looking for a cause and for accurate position of the testis. If the testis can be moved from the nonscrotal position into the scrotum, the potential function of the testis should not be harmed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Surgical outcome of microscopic vasectomy reversal: an analysis of 30 cases.

The results of 30 consecutive microscopic vasovasostomy procedures performed at a single institution over a five-year period between 1991 and 1995 were reviewed. When the surgical outcomes of patients who were operated on less than five years after their vasectomy were compared with the outcomes of those patients who received a vasovasostomy more than five years after their vasectomy, decreases in technical success rates were observed as measured by appearance of sperm in ejaculate (56% vs. 36%), biologic recovery as measured by mean sperm counts (56 million vs. 35 million) and mean progressive sperm motility (44% vs. 21%), along with a decrease in clinical success, as measured by overall pregnancy rates (50% vs. 7%, p < 0.05). Therefore, a microscopic vasovasostomy within 5 years of a vasectomy is a favorable procedure for vasectomy reversal.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Quality of cryopreserved testicular sperm in patients with obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia.

PURPOSE: Sperm retrieved by testicular sperm extraction is routinely used to attempt pregnancy by in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection. We evaluated the efficacy of cryopreserving testicular sperm collected by testicular sperm extraction at diagnostic biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 73 men with obstructive and 42 with nonobstructive azoospermia underwent testicular sperm extraction at diagnostic biopsy. Sperm was retrieved and cryopreserved in all cases of obstruction and in 15 of nonobstructive azoospermia cases. Before freezing we determined sperm count, motility, morphology and viability, and after thawing we assessed sperm motility and viability. In 17 couples a total of 20 cycles of in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection were performed and fertilization, cleavage and pregnancy rates were determined in cases of obstruction and nonobstruction. RESULTS: Sperm count and morphology were lower in the testicular biopsies of men with nonobstructive versus obstructive azoospermia. Motility was low or absent in all testicular sperm extraction specimens. Importantly, pre-freeze (63%) and post-thaw (31%) viability was the same in both patient groups. After in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection using frozen and thawed testicular sperm the fertilization, cleavage, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were 60, 86, 16 and 50%, respectively. Using cryopreserved sperm we observed no differences in outcome of any in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure in patients with obstructive versus nonobstructive azoospermia. CONCLUSIONS: Cryopreservation of testicular sperm provides enough good quality sperm after thawing to result in excellent in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes. Cryopreservation does not adversely affect intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes, including pregnancy rate. Therefore, we recommend routine testicular sperm extraction and cryopreservation of sperm at testicular biopsy.

Cryopreservation↗
PubMed1998

Correlations among hormone levels, sperm parameters and paternity in formerly unilaterally cryptorchid men.

PURPOSE: We compared characteristics related to fertility between formerly unilaterally cryptorchid men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared sperm counts and gonadotropin levels before and after gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation between formerly unilaterally cryptorchid men and controls who had completed a detailed questionnaire on fertility and other pertinent paternity information. These parameters were also compared between the subsets of formerly cryptorchid men who reported paternity and unsuccessful attempts at paternity. RESULTS: Sperm density and total count, and basal and gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were different in the cryptorchidism and control groups. Higher FSH levels and lower sperm counts correlated inversely in the cryptorchidism group, while luteinizing hormone, testosterone and other results of semen analysis did not differ. Furthermore, FSH levels were higher and sperm counts were lower in the subset who reported unsuccessful attempts at paternity compared with those reporting paternity. Other measured parameters did not differ between these groups. CONCLUSIONS: FSH levels are significantly higher and sperm counts are significantly lower in formerly cryptorchid men than in controls. In the cryptorchidism group the same differences are found in fertile and infertile men. Thus, elevated FSH and low sperm counts may be considered risks for infertility in formerly cryptorchid men.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Pulsatile gonadotrophin releasing hormone versus gonadotrophin treatment of hypothalamic hypogonadism in males.

In this study, pulsatile gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) therapy and gonadotrophin therapy were compared for male patients with idiopathic hypothalamic hypogonadism. Thirty-six patients, 19 with this condition, and 17 with Kallmann's syndrome, were included in the study. Their mean age was 21.1 +/- 3.0 years (+/- SD). They were divided into two groups of similar age, number and testicular volume. Pulsatile GnRH therapy was started with 4 micrograms GnRH s.c. every 2 h using a portable pump and gonadotrophin therapy with weekly i.m. injections of 3 x 2500 IU human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). After 8-12 weeks of HCG treatment, 150 IU human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG) 2-4 times weekly were added and the dose of HCG reduced if necessary. Testosterone concentrations increased significantly more (P < 0.03) in the gonadotrophin group than in the GnRH group (22.5 +/- 8.1 versus 16.8 +/- 5.5 nmol/l). The rise in oestradiol levels was also significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the gonadotrophin group than in the GnRH group (150 +/- 70 versus 88 +/- 59 pmol/l). Five patients developed gynaecomastia during gonadotrophin therapy. An increased testicular volume (TV) occurred more rapidly (P < 0.001) and was significantly more pronounced (P < 0.001) after GnRH therapy (delta TV = 8.1 +/- 2.0 ml) than with gonadotrophins (delta TV = 4.8 +/- 1.8 ml). Sperm counts were performed in 14 patients given GnRH and in 17 patients given gonadotrophins. Ten patients given GnRH had positive sperm counts, ranging from 1.5 to 14 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml; eight of those given gonadotrophins also developed spermatogenesis (2-26 x 10(6)/ml).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chorionic Gonadotropin↗
PubMed2001

Semen quality and male reproductive health: the controversy about human sperm concentration decline.

Concern about the effect of environmental changes on male reproductive health has grown in recent years to become a major preoccupation in some developed countries. A possible decline in human sperm concentration was suggested in the early seventies following studies in the US. In 1992 a meta-analysis of 61 articles published by Carlsen et al. concluded that the mean sperm count of healthy men had declined by 1% per year over the previous 50 years. From 1995 and onwards, some retrospective, longitudinal analyses of the sperm count of fertile or infertile men contradicted this while others did not. The demonstration of a geographical variation in sperm concentration, between and within countries or regions, appears to be less controversial. The amplitude of the difference observed cannot only be explained by methodological or confounding factors, and must to some extent be attributed to ethnic, genetic or environmental factors. As many of the published studies suffer from imprecision regarding the description of population characteristics and confounding factors, and were not designed with controlled and standardised methodology, the debate remains open. Prospective studies in well-defined cohorts of men in various populations are required to evaluate the potential effect of external factors on male reproductive health. These studies should not be limited to the analysis of sperm concentration, as this may not be the best biomarker of testis function and human fertility.

Female↗
PubMed2004

A survey of semen indices in insecticide sprayers.

This study aims at clarifying the semen indices of insecticide sprayers who are exposed mainly to organophosphorus and pyrethroid insecticides. Eighteen male sprayers out of 54 working for 9 companies in central Japan and 18 age-matched students or medical doctors as unexposed controls participated in detailed reproductive check-ups conducted in summer and the following winter. The sprayers were exposed to insecticides more in summer, the busiest season, than winter, the off-season (p<0.05). Erythrocyte true cholinesterase activities in the sprayers were lower than in the controls in summer (p<0.05), and decreased in significant association with the increase in exposure frequency. Testicular volumes in the sprayers tended to be smaller than in the controls (p=0.06). The serum testosterone concentration in winter in the sprayers was higher than in the controls (p<0.05), though luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone concentrations were not significantly different. The sperm counts and vitality were comparable between the groups, but detailed sperm motility analysis in summer revealed that the percentages of slow progressive and nonprogressive motile sperm were twice as high in the sprayers (p<0.05), and that of rapid progressive sperm tended to be lower (p=0.06). Such differences were not observed in winter. Differential sperm morphology counts showed that interaction of group and abstinence effects were significant in sperm with normal morphology and with head deformity only in the summer check-up. Despite possible inherent differences between the groups, the above season-dependent differences suggested that the observed lower semen quality in the sprayers was associated with pesticide spraying work.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Active immunization with follicle-stimulating hormone for fertility control: a 4 1/2-year study in male rhesus monkeys.

Active immunization of four adult rhesus monkeys with highly purified ovine follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) over 4 1/2 years resulted in the production of specific FSH antibodies. While luteinizing hormone and testosterone secretion were not affected, sperm counts were in most instances reduced to or below the lower normal range. On a few occasions, azoospermia or high sperm counts were observed. Although the antibodies produced neutralized the biologic activity of FSH throughout, spermatogenesis gradually returned, as evidenced by testicular histologic characteristics. However, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules remained decreased, and the germinal epithelium was depleted. No adverse side effects could be demonstrated in the immunized animals, e.g., immune complexes in either serum or tissues and resultant tissue damage. These results show that although active immunization with FSH may not result in an effective method of male fertility control, long-term immunization against a circulating hormone may not result in deleterious side effects.

Animals↗