The Effect of Age on Male Infertility in Gabon

Background: Male age significantly affects semen parameters. However, there is no evidence on the impact of aging on semen quality in men residing in Libreville, Gabon. Objective: To determine the effects of age on semen quality of patients visiting the Reproductive Laboratory at the Academic Hospital Mère Enfant located in Libreville, Gabon. Methods: This descriptive and prospective study was performed between the 1st of October 2021 and 30st of September 2022. This study involved patients who had semen analysis as part of fertility check-up. Semen analysis was performed following the World Health Organization, 2010 guidelines. Semen parameters such as volume, leucocytes count, sperm concentration, sperm motility, norml morphology and vitality were used in the current study. Descriptive statistics were performed. The Chi-square test and the Fisher test were used as statistical tools for the analysis of data. The ROC curve was used to illustrate the data. Results: A total of 148 patients were included in the study. Male infertility prevalence was 77.03%. The average age was 41 years with minimum and maximum of 24 and 61 years respectively. Secondary infertility was predominant (66.9%). Patients displaying asthenozoospermia (22.3%) followed by those displaying oligoasthenozoospermia (OAT) isolated (1.4%) or not (11.6%) were the most frequent semen parameter abnormalities. Men aged more than 45 years were 4.4 times likely to have abnormal semen parameters. Odd = 4.4 (IC 95% = [3.3 - 14.7]). Staphylococcus haemolyticus infection was more prevalent. Conclusion: Male age was found to significantly influence semen quality.

The Effects of Age and Ejaculatory Abstinence on Semen Quality and Reproductive Hormones in Africa and the Middle East

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 (<2 days, 2 - 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.