The Pattern of Seminal Fluid Analysis among Male Partners Attending an Infertility Clinic in a Nigerian Tertiary Health Institution

Background: Semen analysis has remained an objective, inexpensive and readily available means of assessing male factor infertility. Aim and Objective: This study aims to determine the prevalence of male infertility, the types and semen quality among infertile couples attending infertility clinic at UDUTH, Sokoto. Materials and Method: This is a retrospective study carried out between January, 2012 to December, 2016. All case notes of infertile patients managed were retrieved The data obtained was analysed using SPSS version 20 and the results were presented in text, tables and charts. Results: Eight hundred and seventy-six out of 11,938 total gynaecological consultations over the study period were due to infertility, giving a prevalence of 7.3%. Among them, 34.4% (320) accounted for male factor infertility. The age ranged between 22 to 75 years with a mean of 37.44 years ± 7.44. Majority, 50.2% were within the ages of 35 - 44 years and up to 73.8% of them had at least secondary education and were mostly, 39.7% civil servants. Up to 75.4% had sperm abnormalities, among which 65% (196/301) had primary infertility while, 35% (105/301) had secondary infertility. About half of them (47.5% (153/301)) had Azoospermia, 22.3% (67/301) Oligospermia and only 30.3% (91/301) had a normal sperm count. More than half of them, 121/227 (53.3% had multiple abnormalities). Conclusion: Male factor infertility contributes significantly to the burden of infertility in our environment. Therefore, there is the need to create awareness so that males fully participate in the evaluation, as the blames are mainly on the females.

Seminal fluid changes in the COVID-19 era:During infection and Post-vaccination

Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)predilection for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)receptors allows its entrance and replication;however,they are not biochemically required for viral fusion into the cell membrane.Testicular tissue has abundant ACE2 receptors,making it a target for the COVID-19 virus.Seminal fluid pa-rameters are measures of male fertility.Changes in semen parameters have been caused by coronavirus disease and vaccines.Some attribute that effect to direct hematogenic spread to the testis;others propose that the excessive immunological response triggered by the infection causes a deleterious effect.An unsubstantiated claim questioned whether the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine could trigger an unintentional immunological response that would impair male fertility once receiving the vaccine.Extensive research confirms the transient nature of those changes that affect sperm motility and count with full recovery post-COVID-19 infection and after vaccination.The vac-cine's safety was reaffirmed;however,there are currently no recommendations for screening sperm donors.Research is warranted to guarantee the safety of couples undergoing assisted reproduction.