Setting standards of male fertility I. Semen analyses in 1500 patients--a report

Semen samples obtained from 1500 men requesting vasectomy were analysed. The data obtained were compared with the earlier reports. Two semen samples with an interval of fifteen days between the two samples with a continence period of 3 to 5 days, were analysed from each patient. The frequency distributions of fructose and citric acid estimated in the seminal plasma is also reported. Greater percentage of men with sperm counts 20 to 40 millions per ml and total sperm counts 100 to 200 millions per ejaculate were observed in the present series. About 13.8 percent of the total men studied had sperm counts below 20 millions per ml and total sperm counts below 100 millions per ejaculate were also seen in the present series. This changing pattern of fertility towards lowered levels of sperm counts needs careful consideration of other factors including hostile environmental influences. The levels of fructose and citric acid seem to increase with increase in sperm counts. Thus, it necessitates that along with routine established standards of fertility, every individual must be carefully analysed by an andrologist before asserting the fertility status of the individual.