Male Fertility and Reduction in Semen Parameters: A Single Tertiary-Care Center Experience

Background. Infertility is both a clinical and a public problem, affecting the life of the couple, the healthcare services, and social environment. Standard semen analysis is the surrogate measure of male fertility in clinical practice. Objective. To provide information about the relationship betwe...

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Main Authors: D. Milardi, G. Grande, D. Sacchini, A. L. Astorri, G. Pompa, A. Giampietro, L. De Marinis, A. Pontecorvi, A. G. Spagnolo, R. Marana
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Endocrinology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/649149
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author D. Milardi
G. Grande
D. Sacchini
A. L. Astorri
G. Pompa
A. Giampietro
L. De Marinis
A. Pontecorvi
A. G. Spagnolo
R. Marana
author_facet D. Milardi
G. Grande
D. Sacchini
A. L. Astorri
G. Pompa
A. Giampietro
L. De Marinis
A. Pontecorvi
A. G. Spagnolo
R. Marana
author_sort D. Milardi
collection DOAJ
description Background. Infertility is both a clinical and a public problem, affecting the life of the couple, the healthcare services, and social environment. Standard semen analysis is the surrogate measure of male fertility in clinical practice. Objective. To provide information about the relationship between semen parameters and spontaneous conception. Methods. We evaluated retrospectively 453 pregnancies that occurred among 2935 infertile couples evaluated at an infertility clinic of a tertiary-care university hospital, between 2004 and 2009. Results. Normal semen analysis was present only in 158 patients; 295 subfertile patients showed alterations in at least one seminal parameter. A reduction in all seminal parameters was observed in 41 patients. Etiological causes of male infertility were identified in 314 patients. Conclusion. Our data highlights the possibility of a spontaneous conception with semen parameters below WHO reference values. Therefore, we support the importance of defining reference values on a population of fertile men. Finally, we analyzed the related ethical issues.
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publishDate 2012-01-01
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series International Journal of Endocrinology
spelling doaj-art-bcf5772d7b8a432498c3287b25e02f352025-08-20T03:23:19ZengWileyInternational Journal of Endocrinology1687-83371687-83452012-01-01201210.1155/2012/649149649149Male Fertility and Reduction in Semen Parameters: A Single Tertiary-Care Center ExperienceD. Milardi0G. Grande1D. Sacchini2A. L. Astorri3G. Pompa4A. Giampietro5L. De Marinis6A. Pontecorvi7A. G. Spagnolo8R. Marana9Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Scientific Institute “Paolo VI”, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnit of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, ItalyInstitute of Bioethics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Scientific Institute “Paolo VI”, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Scientific Institute “Paolo VI”, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnit of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnit of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnit of Endocrinology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, ItalyInstitute of Bioethics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Scientific Institute “Paolo VI”, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, ItalyBackground. Infertility is both a clinical and a public problem, affecting the life of the couple, the healthcare services, and social environment. Standard semen analysis is the surrogate measure of male fertility in clinical practice. Objective. To provide information about the relationship between semen parameters and spontaneous conception. Methods. We evaluated retrospectively 453 pregnancies that occurred among 2935 infertile couples evaluated at an infertility clinic of a tertiary-care university hospital, between 2004 and 2009. Results. Normal semen analysis was present only in 158 patients; 295 subfertile patients showed alterations in at least one seminal parameter. A reduction in all seminal parameters was observed in 41 patients. Etiological causes of male infertility were identified in 314 patients. Conclusion. Our data highlights the possibility of a spontaneous conception with semen parameters below WHO reference values. Therefore, we support the importance of defining reference values on a population of fertile men. Finally, we analyzed the related ethical issues.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/649149
spellingShingle D. Milardi
G. Grande
D. Sacchini
A. L. Astorri
G. Pompa
A. Giampietro
L. De Marinis
A. Pontecorvi
A. G. Spagnolo
R. Marana
Male Fertility and Reduction in Semen Parameters: A Single Tertiary-Care Center Experience
International Journal of Endocrinology
title Male Fertility and Reduction in Semen Parameters: A Single Tertiary-Care Center Experience
title_full Male Fertility and Reduction in Semen Parameters: A Single Tertiary-Care Center Experience
title_fullStr Male Fertility and Reduction in Semen Parameters: A Single Tertiary-Care Center Experience
title_full_unstemmed Male Fertility and Reduction in Semen Parameters: A Single Tertiary-Care Center Experience
title_short Male Fertility and Reduction in Semen Parameters: A Single Tertiary-Care Center Experience
title_sort male fertility and reduction in semen parameters a single tertiary care center experience
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/649149
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