Male infertility profile in an assisted human reproduction clinic from the south of Santa Catarina, Brazil, from 2012 to 2014

Abstract

Introduction

Male infertility is characterized by the inability to produce sperm with normal concentration, motility and/or morphology, featuring an abnormal spermatogenesis. The diagnosis of male infertility is accomplished through spermogram.

Objectives

The present study aimed to verify the profile of male infertility of patients attended in an assisted human reproduction clinic.

Methods

We assessed the spermogram report of 196 patients who underwent semen analysis in a private clinic of assisted human reproduction, located in the south of the state of Santa Catarina (Brazil), from 2012 to 2014.

Results

32.7% of patients presented normal semen analysis, while 67.3% had some alteration in the report. Among the altered semen, the following diagnoses were found: teratozoospermia (44.7%), oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (20.5%), oligoteratozoospermia (15.9%), azoospermia (7.6%), asthenoteratozoospermia (6.8%), oligozoospermia (2.3%) and asthenozoospermia (2.3%). It was also showed that the sperm volume was modified with advancing age, showing a significant decrease in individuals over 40 years old.

Conclusions

our data revealed teratozoospermia as the most frequent sperm alteration found. Moreover, patients aged greater than or equal to 40 years old presented reduced sperm volume, although the patients’ age did not show correlation with the final diagnosis of the sperm analysis.