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Will male semen quality improve with environmental quality?
Xu-Chao Dai1, Meng-Qi Zhang1, Gang Chen1
1School of Public Health and Management, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, China.
Asian Journal of Andrology
|July 18, 2022
Summary
Environmental improvements in Wenzhou correlated with better semen volume and sperm motility in infertile men. However, normal sperm morphology did not improve, suggesting lifestyle factors play a significant role.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Environmental Medicine
- Andrology
Background:
- Wenzhou has undergone environmental remediation, but its impact on male reproductive health, specifically semen quality, is not well understood.
- Male infertility is a growing concern, necessitating research into environmental and lifestyle factors affecting semen parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between improved environmental quality in Wenzhou and the semen quality of infertile males.
- To identify demographic and occupational factors influencing semen quality in this population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of semen quality data from 22,962 infertile males collected between January 2014 and November 2019.
- Statistical evaluation of trends in semen parameters (motility, volume, morphology) over time and correlation with patient demographics and environmental changes.
Main Results:
- Most infertile males (77.5%) presented with abnormal semen quality.
- Older age (>40 years), occupational status, and Wenzhou household registration were associated with poorer semen quality.
- Progressive sperm motility, total sperm motility, and semen volume showed significant increasing linear trends from 2014 to 2019.
- Normal sperm morphology exhibited a significant linearly decreasing trend during the study period.
Conclusions:
- Improved environmental quality and accessory gland function are linked to enhanced progressive sperm motility, total sperm motility, and semen volume.
- Normal sperm morphology appears to be influenced by occupational exposures and personal lifestyle choices, independent of environmental quality improvements.
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