Frequency of Abnormality of Semen in Infertile Couple

Abstract

Background: Infertility is a significant global health concern affecting approximately 10–15% of couples, with male factors contributing to nearly half of all cases. Semen analysis remains the cornerstone investigation for evaluating male infertility, providing key insights into sperm concentration, motility, and morphology. This study aimed to determine the frequency and pattern of semen abnormalities among male partners of infertile couples.

Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital over a period of 6 months. A total of 200 male partners of infertile couples, aged 24–40 years, were included. Infertility was defined as failure to conceive after at least 12 months of regular unprotected intercourse. Semen samples were collected following 2–5 days of abstinence and analyzed according to WHO 2010 guidelines. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, and frequencies and percentages were calculated.

Results: The mean age of participants was 32.4 ± 5.8 years, with a mean duration of infertility of 3.2 ± 1.6 years. Primary infertility was observed in 66% of couples, while 33% had secondary infertility. Normal semen parameters were found in 39% of participants, whereas 61% showed abnormalities. Among abnormal cases, asthenozoospermia was the most common finding (36.1%), followed by oligozoospermia (24.6%), teratozoospermia (16.4%), and azoospermia (14.8%). Combined abnormalities (oligoasthenoteratozoospermia) were observed in 8.2% of patients.

Conclusion: The study demonstrates a high prevalence of abnormal semen parameters among male partners of infertile couples, with sperm motility defects being the most common abnormality.