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Updated: Jul 1, 2025
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Flow Cytometric Analysis of Biomarkers for Detecting Human Sperm Functional Defects
Published on: April 21, 2022
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Changes in Sperm Parameters with Time in Men with Normal and Abnormal Baseline Semen Analysis.
Nir Cohen1,2, Assaf Ben-Meir1,2, Tzuf Harlap3
1Infertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hadassah Ein-Kerem Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Reproductive Sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.)
|February 29, 2024
Summary
Semen quality declines over time in men with normal baseline parameters, while improving in those with abnormal baseline parameters. Longer intervals between semen analyses increase the risk of developing sperm abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Medicine
- Andrology
- Human Fertility Studies
Background:
- Limited data exists on intra-personal variations in semen parameters over time.
- Paternal age's effect on sperm quality is known, but individual changes are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess temporal trends in semen parameters among men with normal and abnormal baseline sperm.
- To identify risk factors for sperm quality deterioration over time.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study at an IVF unit.
- Included 902 men with at least two semen analyses (SA) over 1 year apart.
- Compared intra-patient changes in semen parameters based on baseline SA (BSA) and analyzed risk factors for developing abnormal SA.
Main Results:
- Men with normal BSA showed a decline in concentration, motility, and total motile count (TMC).
- Men with abnormal BSA showed improvement in volume, motility, and TMC, but not concentration.
- 33.5% of men with normal BSA developed abnormalities over time; longer time between tests was an independent risk factor.
Conclusions:
- Semen quality declines over time in men with normal baseline parameters.
- Semen quality shows slight improvement in most parameters for men with abnormal baseline parameters.
- Increased time between semen analyses is an independent risk factor for developing sperm abnormalities.
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