Effect of Environmental Factors, Lifestyle, Lipid Profile and Previous Medical Conditions on Semen Quality in Male Partners of Infertile Couples; Evidence from Kumasi Metropolis

Introduction: Infertility among men is a major public health problem that has mainly been linked to semen abnormalities due to certain background or environmental characteristics, disease and surgical conditions as well as lifestyle. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of environmental factors, lifestyle, lipid profile and previous medical conditions on semen quality of male infertile couples in the Kumasi metropolis.

Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study conducted between February 2012 and May 2013. The study involved 150 men whose female partners reported to the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of Komfo Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Ashanti Region of Ghana for infertility treatment. Semen of the respondents were examined for various characteristics including sperm viability, motility and concentration. The demographic, behavioral and anthropometric data of clients were also taken with the use of structured questionnaires. Associations between the various explanatory factors and semen quality were tested using correlation and regression at significant levels of p<0.05.

Results: About half of the respondents had very low sperm counts (oligospermia), 36.7% had normal sperm concentration whereas 10.7% had no sperm in the semen. The mean sperm motility among the males of infertile couples was 51.0 (SD=30.12). Mumps had significant association with Log of sperm concentration (p=0.025) but not with motility (p=0.333). Extensive use of marijuana was associated with 1.69X106 increase in the log sperm concentration (p=0.020). Extensive use of heroine also had a significant association sperm concentration (p=0.05). Lipid levels had no significant association with sperm quality.

Conclusion: Although the lipid profile showed no significant association with semen quality, positive lifestyles targeted at improving lipid profile might help improve semen concentration since BMI and triglyceride negatively affected sperm concentration and motility though the effects were not significant. The effects of marijuana and heroin use may arise may be due the small number of users in the study group.