Annual trends in semen parameters among men attending a fertility center between 2016 and 2022

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multiple studies have shown sperm concentration and count decline in many countries, however, authors’ conclusions were inconsistent. These types of studies were not conducted in Russia so far.

AIM: To evaluate and analyze semen parameters among men attending a fertility center in St. Petersburg between 2016 and 2022.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a retrospective study parameters of 14234 consequent semen analyses performed according to WHO guidelines (2010) were sorted, analyzed and compared by year.

RESULTS: The distribution parameters of the ejaculate volume did not have change over observation period. Azoospermia and cryptozoospermia were detected in 597 (4.2%) and 435 (3.1%) men respectively. A downward trends for sperm concentration of 1.6 million/ml (1.9%)/year and sperm count of 7 million (1.8%)/year were found, with simultaneous annual increase of 1.3% in the proportion of progressively motile spermatozoa. No noticeable changes in the number of motile spermatozoa and the proportion of spermatozoa with normal morphology were found.

CONCLUSIONS: Further research is needed to obtain final conclusions about the gradual decline in the semen quality and reproductive function of men, also in other centers of the Russian Federation.

About the authors

Igor A. Korneyev

Academician I.P. Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University; JSC “International Center for Reproductive Medicine”

Author for correspondence.
Email: iakorneyev@yandex.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7347-1901
SPIN-code: 4780-2266
Scopus Author ID: 6506000592
ResearcherId: R-3046-2017
https://professiya-vrach.ru/heroes/sankt-peterburg/korneev-igor-alekseevich/

Dr. Sci. (Med.), professor of the Department of Urology

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Saint Petersburg

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Supplementary files

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1. JATS XML
2. Fig. 1. Sperm concentration according to the year of sperm analysis

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3. Fig. 2. Sperm counts according to the year of sperm analysis

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4. Fig. 3. Proportion of progressively motile sperm according to the year of sperm analysis

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5. Fig. 4. Progressively motile sperm counts according to the year of sperm analysis

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