Preventable Male Infertility: Identifying the Modifiable Risk Factors

Abstract

Background: Infertility is a global health issue, with both genders having equal contribution. Approximately 15% of couples having difficulty to conceive after one year of consistent, unprotected sexual activity, infertility. Objectives: To identify the modifiable risk factors of male infertility in patients visiting a private hospital of Peshawar.Material and Methods: The study was a descriptive Cross-sectional of six months duration. A total sample size of 733 married male patients visiting private hospital were included and those who were reluctant to participate were excluded. Structured questionnaire were filled. Non probability convenience sampling technique was used and data was analyzed using SPSSversion 22Results: Out of 733 sample size 397(54%),336 (45.9%) had secondary and primary infertility, respectively. Risk factors, like obesity, smoking, diabetes mellitus, congenital anomalies and varicocele were linked to infertility with p valve < 0.05. The majority 568 (77.5%) had normal semen count, Oligospermia and Azoospermia were 11%.Conclusion: Our study concluded that smoking, diabetes mellitus, obesity, semen abnormalities and congenital anomalies were related to both primary and secondary infertility among men in Peshawar.Keywords: Male infertility, Obesity, Risk factors, Semen analysis, Semen abnormalities, Tobacco use.