A Study On The Semen Quality And Its Relevant Risk Factors Of Infertile Male In Islands Area

BACKGROUND AND AIMThere are a lot of risk factors during the development of infertile men such as the semen quality, occupation, smoking and drinking etc. However, owning the normal sperm is considered as one of the two basic conditions of the male fertility, thus the semen quality including concentration, motility and morphology etc, is one of main corresponding factors to infertility. The semen analysis can show the earlier reproductive damage, and it is also the most classical toxicological index of male genital study. Therefore, the semen quality is the most basic and the most important index evaluating the ability of the male fertility. It is well known that the semen quality of adult in the world presents an obvious descending trend. Moreover, the semen quality of male has different distribution in different regions and races.There has been a great deal of epidemiological investigations and experimental researches of animals so far, indicating that numerous environmental factors and occupational exposure directly or indirectly have toxicity on human sperm. The descending of semen quantity is coefficient result from numerous factors and diseases in the process ofaffecting the genital function independently or mutually. As long as we find some key factors among that network, we can adopt the relevant intervention to prevent it. But the exact causes and the corresponding risk factors of the insular male infertility are not clear for sure.Therefore, in order to find out the relevant factors of the insular infertility, we perform this study through conducting epidemiological survey and testing the quality of the insular infertile men's sperms.METHODS228 infertile male from the genital study center in the island were recruited as subjects of this study. The inclusion criteria were as follow: (1) during Mar, 2004 to Sep, 2005. (2)insular people. (3)infertile male patient. All subjects were interviewed face-to-face with the epidemiological questionnaire including basic information, diet structure, occupation, type of drinking water and life style etc. We collected "the semen samples following a standardized 4-6 days abstinence period. After liquefaction, the semen characteristics were carried out by calculator assistance sperm analysis (CASA) technique, including the analysis of semen routine and sperm movable parameter etc. One-way Analysis of Variance, ?-test, Kruskal Wallis test and Logistic regression were used in statistical analysis of the data by SPSS 13.0.RESULTSThe average age of subjects was 31.00 years old and the averageperiod of infertility was 3.00 years. Their educational levels regarded junior high school as principle was 24.12%, and senior high school the next in order was 20.18%. The diet structure with the seafood as the non-staple food was 35.09%, the next with the mix was 26.32%. The drinking water was mainly running water and purified water, having 42.98% and 25.44% respectively. The third was a groundwater, having 16.67%. The occupation crowds who contacted seawater, who drove taxi and who worked in the field of decoration were 21.93%^ 18.42% and 17.54% respectively. And most of them were smokers, having 61.40%.The subjects drinking alcohol was 50.00%.The average sperm concentration of subjects was 23.34* 106/ml. The sperm of Grade a, b were 35.16% and 9.38% respectively. The normal morphology of sperm was 59.27%.The abnormal seminal plasma was 58.77% among subjects. The sperm progressive motility was 58.77%, and the low sperm concentrationwas 47.37%.It was found that sperm of Grade a, b, c and morphology were statistically significant in different subjects of occupation (e.g. the occupation crowd contacted sea water, the driver, worker of decoration, etc.), drinking water, educational levels (e.g. the primary education, the university education, etc.), age situation and drinking alcohol (P<0.05). In terms of the motility parameter (Grade a, b, c, d) among these groups with different non-staple food, quantity with the seafood intake, period of infertile and smoking was statistically significant (P<0.05) . The spermconcentration of smoker was significantly lower than that of nonsmoking patients (P<0.05) .Smoking and drinking were potential risk factors of semen quality (Smoking: OR =1.169, 95%CI=( 1.044—1.310);drinking: OR =1.186, 95%C7=(1.055~-1.333)) . The more quantity of smoking and drinking, the more possibility of semen abnormality (P<0.05) . The period of infertility may be the protection factors of semen quality (0^=0.822, 95 %CI= (0.719~0.940)) . The main non-staple food was the potential affecting factor of the semen quantity. The vegetable fruits and the admixture non-staple foods may be the protection factor of the semen quantity compared with seafood intake (vegetable fruits : OjR=0.284, 95%C7=(0.090 — 0.894);admixture : OR=0365, 95%C/=(0.175 ~ 0.762)) .CONCLUSIONa. The average age and period of infertility of subjects is 31.00 years old and 3.00 years. The average age of subjects is lower and the period of infertility is shorter. The infertile male tends to have lower-educational levels and lower consumption rate of running water. The occupation crowds who contact seawater, who drive taxi and who work in the field of decoration are main population in infertile male.b. The quantity, vitality and morphology of the infertile men's sperms are within the scope of WHO reference value, but the sperm progressive motility is low.c. The semen quality may be a major reason affecting the insular reproductive function. It is revealed that motion-disability and lower density lead to the insular infertility among infertile sufferers.d. The occupation exposure, types of non-staple food and drinking water, seafood intake, age, educational level, infertile period, smoking and drinking potentially affect the quality of sperm.e. Smoking and drinking are risk factors of the semen quality. The more quantity of smoking and drinking, the more possibility of semen abnormality is. The infertile period may be protection factor of the semen quality.f. The non-staple food is related with the semen quality. The vegetable fruits and the admixture non-staple foods may be the protection factor of the semen quality compared with seafood intake.