Effect of age and abstinence on semen quality: A retrospective study in a teaching hospital

Abstract

Objective: To elucidate the effect of age and sexual abstinence on semen quality (semen volume, total count, progressive motility, vitality and morphology). Methods: A total of 730 semen samples were analyzed. Subjects were grouped according to the age (20-29, 30–34, 35–39 and 40–50) and abstinence (2–3, 4–5 and 6–7). Semen parameters were evaluated following WHO standard criteria. Results: Analysis of 730 semen samples showed negative correlation of progressive motility (r=-0.131, P< 0.01), vitality (r=-0.173, P< 0.01), morphology (r=-0.324, P< 0.01) with age. With increase in age percentage of progressive motility, vitality and normal morphology in mean values declined after the age group of 35–39 to 40–50 years, but no change in volume and count were observed. Increase in abstinence with individual days significantly affected semen volume (H= 20.65, P< 0.001), count (H= 36.67, P<0.01), progressive motility (H= 13.53, P<0.05) and vitality (H= 15.33, P< 0.01). But, no effect was found on sperm morphology. Mann Whitney U test confirmed the changes in semen volume, total count and vitality in paired grouping from 2–7 days (P<0.05), but changes in sperm motility were observed after 5 days of abstinence in each paired group upto 7 days (P<0.05). Mean values of semen parameters among three abstinence groups (2–3, 4–5 and 6–7 days) also showed similar result. Conclusions: In the present study, age negatively affected progressive motility, vitality and morphology of human sperm. Semen samples showed intra varied results within WHO amended abstinence period.

Keywords

• Age
• Abstinence
• Semen quality