UK study shows 29% drop in sperm concentration
5th January 2004
Results from the UK’s largest single-centre study into sperm
counts reinforce concern over male fertility. The ‘SPIN’
(Semen Parameters in
the Northeast) study measured sperm counts of men
attending a regional fertility clinic in Aberdeen from 1989 to 2002.
Tests showed a drop of almost 30% in the average sperm concentrations
over the period of investigation.
The study showed that average sperm count of those men with a ‘normal’
sperm concentration (defined as over 20 million sperm/ml) in the
group fell from nearly 87 million sperm/ml to just over 62 million
sperm /ml over 14 years, a 29% drop in sperm numbers.
The study examined nearly 16,000 semen samples from more that 7,500
men who had attended the Aberdeen Fertility Centre, the only fertility
clinic in the Grampian area. The research team is looking at several
aspects of semen quality that might affect fertility; these preliminary
results show that there has been a significant change in one aspect,
sperm concentration.
Dr Siladitya Bhattacharya, who led the research, commented ‘We
cannot say that there has been a fall in male fertility on the basis
of these preliminary results, and much conflicting evidence exists
in this field. There has been an increase in men seeking treatment
for male infertility, but whether this is due to a significant increase
in this condition or because men are more aware of new techniques
which have been developed to help them, we cannot say. Nonetheless,
the drop in sperm counts must cause some concern, and needs to be
explained. We look forward to collecting data on other aspects of
sperm quality to see if there is a similar decline.’
Notes for Editors
This work will be presented at the Joint Meeting of the Association
of Clinical Embryologists and British Fertility Society, 5-6 January
2004 in Liverpool, UK.
The study was carried out by S Sripada, D Giannaris, EM Mathers,
J Mollison & S Bhattacharya from the Assisted Reproduction Unit,
University of Aberdeen and Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, Forresterhill,
Aberdeen.
For more information: please contact the British Fertility Society press office
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