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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Sperm Collection of Differential Quality Using Density Gradient Centrifugation
Published on: November 29, 2018
Sperm quality, birth rates and the environment in Flanders (Belgium)
Frank H Comhaire1, Ahmed M A Mahmoud, Frank Schoonjans
1Ghent University Hospital, Department of Medical and Urological Andrology, 9k12 IE, De Pintelaan, 185, B 9000 Gent, Belgium. frank.Comhaire@Ugent.be
Abstract:
The relationship between fertility and pollution is unclear. We evaluated sperm quality of 562 candidate donors (years 1977-2004), births rates (births), pollutants, and the number of females in reproductive age (NFRA, 20-39 years) in Flanders. Total sperm count did not change significantly with time. Births correlated with sperm morphology (r=0.60, P=0.0027). Continuing decline in sperm morphology with time is confirmed, statistically unrelated to pollutants. Grade A sperm motility declined (1977-1992) with gradual incomplete recovery thereafter. Multiple regression analysis (1995-2002) indicated dioxin (negative association) as the only independent variable for grade A motility (r-adjusted co-efficient of determination "r-adjusted"=0.76, P=0.008). Births and pollution were positively associated but births were only dependent on NFRA (r-adjusted=0.91, P<0.001). Our results suggest a relation between dioxin and sperm motility, partially reversible upon reduction of environmental dioxin. Though significantly correlated with sperm morphology, births are primarily associated with demographic factors.
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