Premium
Comparison of semen quality in older and younger men attending an andrology clinic
Author(s) -
Jung A.,
Schuppe H.C.,
Schill W.B.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1046/j.0303-4569.2001.00487.x
Subject(s) - semen , abstinence , medicine , sperm , semen quality , semen analysis , testosterone (patch) , sperm motility , outpatient clinic , andrology , male infertility , infertility , biology , pregnancy , psychiatry , genetics
Summary. The effects of age on semen quality were analysed in patients referred to an andrology outpatient clinic in a retrospective study covering a period of 3 years. Semen analyses of older men ( n = 66; ≥ 50 years; median: 53) were compared with those of young patients ( n = 134; 21–25 years; median 24). The duration of sexual abstinence was longer among older patients (median: 5.5 vs. 5.0 days; + 10%, P < 0.05). Even after adjustment for duration of sexual abstinence, progressive motility (− 27%, P < 0.01), percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa (− 44%, P < 0.01) and semen volume (− 29%, P < 0.0005) were significantly lower in older than in younger men. Impaired sperm morphology was mainly attributed to abnormal staining of flagella (+ 50%, P < 0.05) and an increased portion of coiled or bent tails (+ 44%, P = 0.001) indicating epididymal dysfunction. Total sperm count and sperm concentration were unaffected by age. Age‐dependent changes in accessory gland function, as indicated by fructose concentration (− 27%, P < 0.05), was correlated with lower semen volume. Moreover, serum testosterone levels were significantly reduced in the group of older men (median: 3.0 vs. 3.6 ng ml −1 ; −17%, P < 0.005).