Ann Hum Biol. 2021 Jul 21:1-24. doi: 10.1080/03014460.2021.1957501. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: According to numerous studies from around the world, semen quality seems to have declined dramatically over the last years. However, the data investigated on male fertility status and semen quality in North Africa is limited.
AIM: To investigate on the status of semen quality in North-African men and to understand its variations.
SUBJECTS & METHODS: 20,958 Sperm-analyses (Spermogram – Spermocytogram) of North-African men (19-77 years old) consulting for infertility, performed in a private laboratory of medical analyses (Tunis, Tunisia) over a period of six years (2013 – 2018), were investigated. All patients had at least one year of unprotected intercourse with their partners before the test. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 22.0 software for windows.
RESULTS: Libyan men presented a clear decline in all sperm parameters. A continuous decline in sperm morphology quality was shown in Tunisian and Algerian men. Mauritanian men presented a significant increase in sperm vitality with pseudo-stability in the rest of sperm parameters during the whole study period.
CONCLUSION: North-African men presented remarkable decreases of their semen quality over the last decade. This data could confirm possible global common-causes that need to be identified in order to limit their negative impact on sperm quality, and consequently on male-fertility.
PMID:34286659 | DOI:10.1080/03014460.2021.1957501
