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Purpose: Chromosomal abnormalities play an important role in male infertility, which is becoming a significant issue in human fertility. Aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of spermatic aneuploidies and diploidies in human sperm, according to semen parameters. Methods: We performed semen analysis according to the 6th edition of WHO criteria in 50 male subjects; samples were divided into normozoospermic (n = 23) or those with altered seminal parameters (n = 27). To assess chromosomal numerical alterations of sperm, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used. Result: A significant increase in aneuploidies and diploidies was observed in samples with altered seminal parameters. Furthermore, stratifying this group, we observed a significant increase in aneuploidies and total abnormalities in oligozoospermic, asthenoteratozoospermic (AT), and oligoteratoasthenozoospermic (OAT) samples compared to normozoospermic. Conclusion: Our results showed the correlation between altered seminal parameters and numerical chromosomal abnormalities, confirming that sperm FISH analysis could be an additional clinical tool to assess reproductive potential in infertile males. Moreover, our results point to the importance of updating the normality ranges for detecting chromosomal aneuploidies using FISH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought challenges to different medical fields, especially reproductive health. To date, most studies on the effects of COVID-19 on male reproduction have some limitations. In addition, there is little research on the mechanisms underlying by which severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection affects semen quality. Here, we revealed the possible impact of COVID-19 on sperm parameters and the potential mechanisms. At present, it is still controversial whether COVID-19-induced fever adversely affects sperm parameters. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 can induce up-regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine, which leads to the destruction of blood-testis barrier and impairment of spermatogenesis. Moreover, severe viral infection of the respiratory system could induce systemic oxidative stress. Sperm are highly vulnerable to it due to their limited levels of antioxidant defense, unsophisticated DNA damage detection and repair mechanisms. Our review prompt medical staff and patients to consciously check the reproductive function of COVID-19 male patients. Moreover, opening our prospective beyond the direct infection could be the key to better understand the COVID-19 short and long-term effects and provide a new idea for future treatment of patients with reproductive function injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The rapid outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic posed challenges across different medical fields, especially reproductive health, and gave rise to concerns regarding the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on male infertility, owing to the fact that the male reproductive system indicated to be extremely vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Only a small number of studies have investigated the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on male reproduction, but the results are not consistent. So, we performed this meta-analysis to draw a clearer picture and evaluate the impacts of COVID-19 on male reproductive system. Method: We searched Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases to identify the potentially relevant studies. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied to assess the relationship. Heterogeneity testing, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias testing were also performed. Results: A total of twelve studies including 7 case control investigations and 5 retrospective cohort studies were found relevant and chosen for our research. Our result showed that different sperm parameters including semen volume [SMD = − 0.27 (− 0.46, − 1.48) (p = 0.00)], sperm concentration [SMD = − 0.41 (− 0.67, − 0.15) (p = 0.002)], sperm count [SMD = − 0.30 (− 0.44, − 0.17) (p = 0.00)], sperm motility [SMD = − 0.66 (− 0.98, − 0.33) (p = 0.00)], and progressive motility [SMD = − 0.35 (− 0.61, − 0.08) (p = 0.01)] were negatively influenced by SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, sperm concentration (p = 0.07) and progressive motility (p = 0.61) were not found to be significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in case control studies. No publication bias was detected. Conclusion: The present study revealed the vulnerability of semen quality to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our data showed a strong association of different sperm parameters with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The results suggested that SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients may negatively influence their fertility potential in a short-term period, but more studies are needed to decide about the long-term effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The understanding of the role of plasma antioxidant levels in male fertility in the USA is limited. In a secondary analysis of the Males, Antioxidants, and Infertility (MOXI) randomized clinical trial, we sought to determine whether serum levels of vitamin E (α-tocopherol), zinc, and selenium were correlated with semen parameters and couple fertility outcomes. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of the MOXI clinical trial. The primary endpoints in this secondary analysis include semen parameters, and DNA fragmentation and clinical outcomes including pregnancy and live birth. Analyses were completed using Wilcoxon's rank-sum test and linear regression models. Results: At baseline, the analysis included plasma labs for vitamin E (n = 131), selenium (n = 124), and zinc (n = 128). All baseline plasma values were in the normal ranges. There was no association between selenium, zinc, or vitamin E levels and semen parameters or DNA fragmentation. Baseline antioxidant levels in the male partners did not predict pregnancy or live birth among all couples. Among those randomized to placebo, baseline male antioxidant levels did not differ between those couples with live birth and those that did not conceive or have a live birth. Conclusions: Among men attending fertility centers in the USA, who have sufficient plasma antioxidant levels of zinc, selenium, or vitamin E, no association was observed between vitamins and semen parameters or clinical outcomes in couples with male infertility. Higher levels of antioxidants among men with circulating antioxidants in the normal range do not appear to confer benefit on semen parameters or male fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Does IDEF mapping help monitor the technical process of IUI and explore the potential improvements which might contribute to increased pregnancy and live birth rates? Method: Retrospective analysis of 1729 homologous IUI cycles of couples attending a fertility clinic in a university hospital setting. Standardized conventional semen parameters were analyzed and the semen samples prepared via discontinuous density gradient centrifugation. Results: There was no significant association between sperm concentration, motility and morphology (analysis phase), and pregnancy outcome. Only female and male ages were significantly associated with the pregnancy outcome. There was a significant difference in the odds on clinical pregnancies and live births when analysis was ≤ 21 min initiated, and < 107 min between sample production and IUI, adjusted for male and female age. Conclusions: Adjusting for the couple's age, we could show that time intervals between semen production and analysis and IUI when kept low significantly influenced clinical pregnancies and live births. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of different ejaculatory abstinence time frames (several days versus 1 h) on semen parameters, blastocysts ploidy rate, and clinical results in assisted reproduction cycles on sibling oocytes. Methods: This is a prospective study including 22 preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) cycles performed between November 2015 and December 2018. Male partners with oligoastenoteratozoospermia produced two semen samples on the day of oocyte retrieval: the first one after several days of abstinence and the second, 1 h after the first one. Oocytes from each patient were divided into two groups: those in group 1 were injected with spermatozoa from the first ejaculate (N = 121) and oocytes in group 2 with spermatozoa from the second one (N = 144). Outcomes of aniline blue test, fertilization, blastocyst formation, ploidy rates, and clinical results were compared between the two groups. Results: Semen volume resulted lower in the second sperm retrieval. Sperm concentration, motility, and morphology were similar in the two groups. A total of 106 blasotcysts were biospied. Higher blastocyst euploidy rates resulted in group 2 (43.6%) than in group 1 (27.5%). A higher percentage of mature chromatine was observed in group 2. Conclusion: Using spermatozoa from samples with a shorter abstinence could be a simple method to select higher quality spermatozoa, reducing aneuploidy rate in blastocysts. Prospective randomized controlled trials should be performed to confirm the potential advantage of using semen samples with short abstinence period to improve the outcome of assisted reproduction cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To study the role of individual semen parameters on the offspring birth weight and body mass index (BMI) from a population of men evaluated in an assisted reproduction technology (ART) clinic compared to fertile controls.Methods: We performed a retrospective study using a cohort with fertile, age-matched controls of men evaluated with semen analysis at the University of Utah Andrology Clinic from 1996 to 2011 and Intermountain Healthcare from 2002 to 2011. We use the offspring from both our sub-fertile cohort and controls using the Utah Population Database. The two main outcomes of interest were offspring birth weight and adolescent BMI.Results: The offspring of men with impaired sperm parameters had significantly lower birth weight compared to fertile control offspring. Low-concentration offspring weighed 158 g less (95% CI − 278~− 38; p = 0.01), low total count weighed 172 g less (95% CI − 294~− 51; p = 0.005), and low total motility weighed 155 g less (95% CI − 241~− 69; p < 0.001) compared to those of the controls. When we controlled for the use of ART within the sub-fertile group, we found that there was a significant trend of increasing birth weight across levels of total motile count and total sperm count compared to the azoospermic group. We did not find any consistent significant differences between the subject and control adolescence BMI based on semen parameters.Conclusions: Despite limitations within our population-based dataset, we found that poor quality semen analysis parameters pointed towards an association with low birth weight in the offspring of sub-fertile men compared to the offspring of normal fertile controls. However, in contrast to studies of ART effects on offspring, we did not find evidence of long-term associations between semen quality and offspring BMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate recent publications and determine the impact of ejaculatory abstinence on semen analysis parameters as well as fertility outcomes.Methods: This was a systematic review of 28 recent publications. The focus of this study was the impact of abstinence on semen parameters and fertility outcomes in papers published since the year 2000. The specific parameters evaluated were volume, sperm count, motility, morphology, pH, DNA fragmentation rate, viability, and pregnancy or fertilization rates following assisted reproduction.Results: Twenty-eight recent publications met inclusion criteria. Analysis of publications showed that longer abstinence is associated with increases in semen volume and sperm count. Studies evaluating the effect of abstinence on motility, morphology, and DNA fragmentation rates are contradictory and inconclusive, although a trend appears to exist toward improvements in semen parameters with shorter abstinence. Semen pH was unaffected by abstinence. The majority of publications found no difference in rates of viability with varying abstinence times, although total number of viable sperm increases with increasing abstinence. Some studies evaluating the impact of ejaculatory abstinence on intrauterine insemination (IUI), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and in vitro fertilization (IVF) demonstrated an association between short abstinence and improved outcomes.Conclusions: The impact of abstinence on sperm quality is complex. While certain semen parameters improve with longer abstinence, others appear to improve with shorter abstinence. No clear recommendations can be made regarding ideal abstinence due to the conflicting nature of current evidence. Going forward, more research is needed to evaluate the impact of abstinence on pregnancy and fertilization rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of male semen quality, occupational exposure, and lifestyle on recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Methods: Information on couples’ occupational exposure and lifestyle was collected using a detailed questionnaire from 68 RPL couples and 63 randomly selected healthy controls. Semen parameters were estimated by computer-assisted sperm analysis, and sperm nuclear status was detected with aniline blue (AB) staining. Results: Patients in the RPL group had significantly lower viability, normal morphology, and total progressive motility of sperm, and a higher mean percentage of AB staining positive sperm compared with those of controls ( P < 0.05). There were no differences in sperm concentration, and motility between the groups ( P > 0.05). Significant odds ratio (OR) was found when occupational exposure and unhealthy habits were superimposed (OR: 11.965, P = 0.005). Conclusions: In addition to standard female factors for evaluating the risk for RPL, the use of male factors should also be taken into consideration. We found that sperm quality, occupational exposure, and lifestyle are factors that affect RPL. Consequently, occupational exposure and lifestyle factors should constitute an important section of questionnaires given to patients, and these factors should be evaluated by a clinician or trained staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the effects of male aging on semen quality, DNA fragmentation and chromosomal abnormalities in the spermatozoa of infertile patients and fertile men. Methods: Semen samples of 140 infertile patients (24-76 years) and 50 men with proven fertility (25-65 years) were analyzed according to WHO guidelines. DNA fragmentation was detected by TUNEL assay, while aneuploidy was assessed by FISH. Results: In the patient group, semen volume and vitality of spermatozoa decreased significantly with age, while sperm concentration showed a statistically significant increase with age. DNA fragmentation as well as disomy of sex chromosomes and disomy 8 did not show a statistically significant change with age. However, the diploidy rate was significantly increased with patient's age. In the control group, conventional semen parameters as well as DNA fragmentation and chromosomal abnormalities did not show a statistically significant with age. Conclusion: Increased age in infertile men is associated with an increase in sperm concentration and diploidy, as well as a decline in semen volume and sperm vitality. However motility, morphology and DNA fragmentation are not affected by male age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To investigate the effects of male aging on sperm quality and sperm DNA fragmentation. Methods The ejaculates of 320 unselected men attending a fertility clinic and, as a control, 84 normozoospermic men without any history of ART were analyzed according to WHO guidelines. Sperm DNA fragmentation was measured by flow cytometry after staining with propidiumiodide. Results The patients were divided into four groups: <30 years, 30-35 years, 36-39 years and ≥40 years. Sperm motility decreased with increasing age whereas sperm concentration, morphology, and DNA fragmentation fluctuated throughout the four groups both among patients and among controls. However, we could not detect any significant correlation between male age and conventional semen parameters or sperm DNA fragmentation, respectively, neither in the patients' group nor among the controls. This also applies to a classification of patients and controls into only two age groups with a cut-off point at 35 years. Conclusions Our findings suggest that neither the routinely assessed semen parameters nor the amount of spermatozoa with fragmented DNA are affected by male age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose To investigate the effects of male ageing on DNA fragmentation and chromatin packaging in the spermatozoa of oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT) patients. Methods Sixty-one OAT patients and 49 men with proven fertility (controls) were included in the present study. DNA fragmentation was detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay, while chromatin packaging was assessed by chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining. Results In the patient group, semen volume, percentage of normally shaped spermatozoa and sperm motility decreased significantly (P<0.05) with age, while sperm concentration and the percentage of TUNEL and CMA3 positive spermatozoa showed a statistically significant increase with age (P<0.05). In the control group, conventional semen parameters as well as DNA fragmentation and chromatin packaging did not show a statistically significant change with age (P>0.05). Conclusion Increased age in OAT patients is associated with an increase in sperm concentration, DNA fragmentation and poor chromatin packaging, as well as a decline in semen volume, sperm morphology and motility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]