effect of cigarette smoking on the standard semen parameters and leukocyte contamination in infertile men

ABSTRACT

To investigate sperm quality and levels of seminal leukocytes in a group of infertile men with history of cigarette smoking. A prospective clinical study. Sohag University Hospital. Fifty two infertile men were enrolled in this study during the period from June, 2004 to December, 2005. After thorough history taking and examination, they were allocated to 4 groups. Infertile smokers [n = 20] divided into 2 groups, group 1[n=12] who had normal genital examination and group 3 [n=8] who had varicocele and infertile men who were non-smokers [n = 32] divided into 2 groups, group 2 [n=21] who had normal genital examination and group 4 [n=l 1] who had varicocele. A healthy fertile non-smokers [n = 13] as a control group. Genital examination, Scrotal Doppler Ultrasound when needed and standard semen analysis. Sperm parameters [concentration, motility and normal forms] and seminal leukocytic counts. Smoking was associated with 48% increase in seminal leukocyte concentrations [P < 0.0001], On the other hand, abnormal genital examination was associated with 29% decrease in sperm concentration, a correlation which was statistically significant [P = 0.005], Differences in standard sperm variables between infertile smokers and non-smokers men were not statistically significant. Our study demonstrates a strong correlation between smoking and increased seminal leukocytic counts. Smoking metabolites may cause sub-clinical inflammation of the male reproductive tract and recruitment of leukocytes. Activation of these leukocytes may result in oxidative stress and damage to the sperm