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

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.