Semen Quality Assessment in Fertile Men in Madrid During the Last 3 Decades

To evaluate semen quality of men with proven fertility in Spain over the last 3 decades.

We conduct a retrospective analysis of ejaculate samples of 992 men between 1985 and 2009. All patients had proven fertility as demonstrated by fathering at least 2 children and a semen analysis performed before they underwent vasectomy. A standardized procedure was used for the semen analysis. Semen volume, total sperm count, sperm concentration, motility, and percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa were assessed. Mean values were calculated by examining microscopic fields of 100 spermatozoa.

Statistically significant differences were found in all semen parameters analyzed. For the periods 1985-1990, 1990-2000, and 2000-2009, the mean (standard deviation [SD]) sperm concentration was 27.7 (22.97), 20.73 (14.79), and 20.18 (20.79) × 10(6) (P <.0001). The mean (SD) progressive motility for each period was 53.19 (20.35), 47.22 (15.84), and 40.57 (15.15; P <.0001). The mean (SD) normal-shaped spermatozoa for each period was 67.69 (10.24), 58.87 (14.67), and 51.02 (15.76; P <.0001). Multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model showed that age had no significant effect in the variation of semen parameters at the cut-points analyzed, except for normal forms at percentile 25 (P = .001). Multivariate analysis revealed a trend for decline of semen in sperm concentration, progressive and nonprogressive motility, and the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa (P = .001-.002).

Over the last 3 decades, a decline in semen quality was found in all the parameters analyzed in Spanish men with proven fertility.