Semen Parameters of Infertile Out Patients Attending Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Semen analysis is a valuable diagnostic tool in the assessment of male infertility potential. Possible changes were determined in semen quality of some Kano infertile males, over a period of two years (2003 – 2005). Retrospective analysis of semen volume, liquefaction time, pH and sperm concentration was carried out for 120 males from infertile couples (from January 2003 to December, 2005) in which 40 (33.33%) showed a zoospermia (A), 40 (33.33%) had oligozoospermia (B), 10 (8.33%) were asthemozoospermic (C) and 30 (25.00%) were found to be normozoospermic. The linear regression analysis shows a decrease in semen volume in groups A and B; mean semen volume (ml) for the four respective studies groups being 1.5 + 0.4, 1.7 + 2, 2.5 + 0. The mean liquefaction time (min) was 37.5 + 0.7, 28.7 + 3.7, 18.5 + 0.7 and 18.6 + 3.6 in groups A, B, C and D respectively, showing linear increase in groups A and B. pH did not vary much amongst groups and ranged from 7.0 to 8.5. Mean sperm concentration was 0.0, 6.7 + 1.7, 45.3 + 8.8 and 86.8 + 7.5 million/ml in groups A, B, C and D respectively. The study provides valuable semen parameters in the assessment of male infertility potential in Kano. There is need for measuring hormonal profile in the evaluation of male fertility in future study.