Relationship between age and semen parameters in men with normal sperm concentration: analysis of 6022 semen samples

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0272.2007.00761.x

If you are seeing this message, you may be experiencing temporary network problems. Please wait a few minutes and refresh the page. If the problem persists, you may wish to report it to your local Network Manager.

It is also possible that your web browser is not configured or not able to display style sheets. In this case, although the visual presentation will be degraded, the site should continue to be functional. We recommend using the latest version of Microsoft or Mozilla web browser to help minimise these problems.

Wiley InterScience

Andrologia

Volume 39 Issue 2, Pages 45 - 50

Published Online: 5 Apr 2007

Next Abstract >

Save Article to My Profile Download Citation Request Permissions

Abstract | References | Full Text: HTML, PDF (Size: 455K) | Related Articles | Citation Tracking

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Relationship between age and semen parameters in men with normal sperm concentration: analysis of 6022 semen samples

E. Levitas ¹ , E. Lunenfeld ¹ , N. Weisz ¹ , M. Friger ² & G. Potashnik ¹

1 Fertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel ;
2 Department of Epidemiology and Health Services Evaluation, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel

Correspondence to Eliahu Levitas, MD, Fertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, PO Box 151, Beer-Sheva 84101, Israel.
Tel.: +972 8 640 3297;
Fax: +972 8 640 3057;
E-mail: EliahuL@clalit.org.il or loits@bgumail.bgu.ac.il

KEYWORDS

Male age • semen parameters • sperm quality

Summary

This study evaluates retrospectively the relationship between age and semen parameters among men with normal sperm concentration. It was based on computerized data and performed in an Academic Fertility and IVF Unit. Six thousand and twenty-two semen samples with sperm concentrations of ≥20 × 10⁶ ml⁻¹ were examined according to WHO criteria and analysed in relation to patients' age. For each age group, mean values ± SD of semen volume, sperm concentration, percentage of motile spermatozoa, normal morphology, acrosome index, total sperm count/ejaculate, total motile sperm count/ejaculate and sexual abstinence duration were examined. A peak semen volume of 3.51 ± 1.76 ml⁻¹ was observed at age ≥30 to <35 years and a lowest volume of 2.21 ± 1.23 ml⁻¹ was observed at age ≥55 years (P < 0.05). Sperm motility was found to be inversely related to age with peak motility of 44.39 ± 20.69% at age <25 years and lowest motility of 24.76 ± 18.27% at age ≥55 years (P < 0.05). A reduction of 54% was observed for total motile sperm, between values of 103.34 ± 107 × 10⁶ at age ≥30 to <35 years and 46.68 ± 53.73 × 10⁶ (P < 0.05) at age >55 years. A statistically significant and inverse relationship was observed between semen volume, sperm quality and patient age, in spite of prolonged sexual abstinence duration. Top sperm parameters were observed at age ≥30 to <35 years, while the most significant reduction in sperm parameters occurred after the age of 55 years.