A comparative study of cytological and physiological parameters of semen obtained from alcoholics and non-alcoholics

Sixty subjects between the ages of 18 and 50 were used in this study. Thirty of these were known alcoholics undergoing detoxification and treatment while the remainder were non-alcoholics of known fecundity. Semen samples from each subject were evaluated for volume, pH, and sperm viability, motility and concentration. While semen volume was significantly greater in the alcoholic group, the other parameters were similar in the two groups. Complete seminal cytological profiles were obtained for the men in both groups; the alcoholic group was found to contain nearly 30% fewer normal cells than the controls. Cytological aberrancies present in the greatest numbers included coil-tailed sperm, immature testicular cells and amorphous cells, all of which were present in significantly greater ratios in the semen of the alcoholics. In addition, when all other observed spermatozoan aberrations were grouped into one category this group, too, was significantly greater in the alcoholics.