Semen Parameters and hormonal profile of infertile patients

Semen analysis is the most valuable diagnostic tool in the assessment of male fertility potential. Possible changes were determined in semen quality of Pakistani infertile men, over a period of 3 years [1999 to 2002]. Retrospective analysis of semen volume, liquefaction time, pH and sperm concentration were carried out for 150 men' from infertile couples in which 50 cases [33.33%] showed azoospermia [A], 50 cases [33.33%] had oligozoospermia [B], 20 cases [13.33%] were asthenozoospermic [C] and 30 cases [20%] were found to be normozoospermic [D]. The linear regression analysis shows a decrease in semen volume in groups A and B, mean semen volume [ml] for the four respective studied groups being 1.5 +/- 0.4, 1.7 +/- 2, 2.5 +/- 0.1 and 2.4 +/- 0. The mean liquefaction time [min] was 37.5 +/- 0.7, 28.7 +/- 3.7, 18.5 +/- 0.7 and 18.6 +/- 3.6 in groups A, B, C and D, respectively, showing linear increase in groups A and B. pH did not vary much amongst groups and ranged from 7.0-8.5. Mean sperm concentration was 0.0, 6.7 +/- 1.7, 45.3 +/- 8.8 and 86.8 +/- 7.5 million/ml in groups A, B, C and D. The hormonal profile showed normal or low levels of testosterone while FSH and LH levels indicated inverse/negative correlation to sperm concentration, whereas no significant relationship between serum prolactin and semen density was detectable between different groups