Myth and reality of the decline in semen quality : An example of the relativity of data interpretation

Many hypotheses have been put forward to explain a suspected decline in semen quality. Up to now many sources of data were used but conflicting results are present in the literature. To study whether modifications of sperm parameters actually exist we used data from two groups of patients checked an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of endocrinological investigation Vol. 23; no. 6; pp. 402 - 411
Main Authors GANDINI, L, LOMBARDO, F, CULASSO, F, DONDERO, F, LENZI, A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Milano Kurtis 01.06.2000
Subjects
Adult
Aging - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Birth control
Cluster Analysis
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Semen - physiology
Sperm Count
Sperm Motility
Spermatozoa - physiology
Sterility. Assisted procreation
Tissue Banks
Tissue Donors
Human
Spermatozoa
Motility
Fertilizing ability
Sperm count
Semen
Male
Epidemiology
Statistical study
Fertility
Male sterility
Qualitative analysis
Male genital diseases
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Summary:Many hypotheses have been put forward to explain a suspected decline in semen quality. Up to now many sources of data were used but conflicting results are present in the literature. To study whether modifications of sperm parameters actually exist we used data from two groups of patients checked and two small groups of sperm bank donors selected at the beginning '80s and '90s. We tried to reduce bias to a minimum: all the semen analyses were carried out by the same biologist, using the same methods, groups were clinically evaluated by the same andrological team, the study groups were homogeneous for age, geographic-ethnic origin, residence, monthly-seasonal distribution and abstinence period. Comparing patients from the '80s and the '90s, sperm concentration and motility showed a significant reduction. Furthermore, the decrease in concentration and motility was mainly due to the higher age classes. In donors, no decline was observed. These results seem to indicate that sperm donors remain unaffected, while patients with lower levels of semen quality are experiencing a real decline. Unfortunately, many confounding variables, analyzed in detail in this review, still remain despite efforts at standardization.
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ISSN:0391-4097
1720-8386
DOI:10.1007/BF03343745