Isolated asthenospermia evaluation of the possible causes in 179 infertile patients

ABSTRACT

A total of 179 patients with isolated asthenospermia as detected by semen analysis was evaluated by history, clinical and Doppler examinations and laboratory studies. These studies included microbiological culture for aerobes, anaerobes and Chlamydia trachomatis and also immunological screening to detect sperm-coated antisperm antibodies using mixed antiglobulin reaction. Transmission electron microscopy was also performed to check for any sperm tail ultrastructural anomalies. The diagnostic scheme showed that varicocele, genital infection, antisperm antibodies [AsAb] and ultrastructural tail anomalies were present in 54% of the patients as a single etiological factor. In 22.4% of the patients, these identified pathologies existed in different combinations per patient. The remaining 23.6% of the patients were grouped as idiopathic asthenospermia. In conclusion, isolated asthenospermia may be caused by several etiologies that may exist as single or multiple in the patient. Therefore, multidisciplinary approach is required during the evaluation of isolated asthenospermia