TITLE:
The Effects of Age and Ejaculatory Abstinence on Semen Quality and Reproductive Hormones in Africa and the Middle East
AUTHORS:
Lionel Wildy Moungala, Opheelia Makoyo
KEYWORDS:
Africa, Middle East, Reproductive Hormones, Semen Quality
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Reproductive Sciences,
Vol.12 No.2,
March
14,
2024
ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to retrospectively
evaluate the effects of male age and ejaculatory abstinence on semen parameters
and reproductive hormones among men residing in Africa and the Middle East. A total of 70,142 semen analysis results were
analysed and grouped according to the age intervals (16 - 20, 21 - 30, 31 - 40, 41 - 50, 51 - 60, >60) and ejaculatory abstinence ( - 5 days and >5 days). Semen parameters i.e. volume, concentration,
progressive motility, total progressively motile count, morphology, total normal sperm count, DNA fragmentation, viability, sORP, normed sORP
were specifically evaluated. Additionally, for each age interval, reproductive hormones i.e. estradiol, luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone,
testosterone and prolactin were evaluated. Semen volume, total
progressively motile count, sperm morphology and total normal sperm count
constantly decrease significantly after the age of 30 years.
Sperm concentration started declining significantly after the age of 50 years.
There was a constant age- related increase in number of spermatozoa with
damaged DNA. sORP constantly increased up to
60 years. Furthermore,
constantage-related decreases in FSH, serum testosterone and prolact in were observed from patients aged between 16 years
and 60 years. Semen volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility and
normal morphology were significantly higher in patients having > 5
days of abstinence. Patients having > 5 days of abstinence had the lowest normed sORP. Male age significantly affects sperm parameters and
reproductive hormones in fertile and infertile men residing in Africa and the
Middle East. Prolonged abstinence days provides better semen quality.