Semen analysis is the corner stone of infertility evaluation as it provides information on the functional status of the seminiferous tubules, epididymis and accessory sex glands. The methods on how the human semen should be evaluated are provided by the World Health Organization, which periodically releases manuals that include specific protocols and reference standards. In 2010, the WHO publis...

Although methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, a folate enzyme gene, has been associated with idiopathic male infertility, few studies have examined other folate-related metabolites and genes. We investigated whether idiopathic male infertility is associated with variants in folate, vitamin B(12) (B12) and total homocysteine (tHcy)-related genes and measured these metabolites in blood. We conduc...

OBJECTIVE To determine if seminal oxidative stress measurement should be offered routinely to men presenting for infertility evaluation. METHODS We performed an extensive review of the English-language literature by searching MEDLINE for studies published between 1980 and 2007. RESULTS Research conducted during the last decade has provided growing support for the concept that excessive prod...

Male infertility problems can occur when sperms are limited in number or function. In this paper, we describe the clinical evaluation of male infertility. A detailed history, physical examination, and basic semen analysis are required. In addition, ultrasound, karyotyping, and hormonal studies are needed to determine specific causes of infertility. In addition, the World Health Organization (WH...

Male infertility; Smoking; Tobacco; Semen; Sperm; Fertility Abstract Numerous studies have identified specific body systems affected by the hazardous effects of the cigarette smoking particularly the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The effect of smoking on male reproduction has also been studied where semen quality was investigated in different cross-sectional studies including infertil...

Objective: To find out relationship of zinc concentrations in blood and seminal plasma with various semen parameters between fertile and infertile men. Design: Prospective study. Setting: This study was carried out in the Infertility Clinic of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), Karachi and Department of Biochemistry, Basic Medical Sciences Institute, JPMC, Karachi. Subjects & Methods: F...

To investigate the role of the 'male factor' in the pathogenesis of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), especially sperm morphology abnormalities, 120 previously selected couples with unexplained RSA were studied for sperm parameters retrospectively and prospectively. The patients were subdivided into three subgroups, depending on their reproductive outcome during the 3 years of follow-up stu...

Infertility is an important aspect of human reproduction. It affects up to 15% of couples, with the male factor contributing to approximately 50% of all cases. Azoospermia is one of the most severe forms of male infertility, which is characterized by the absence of sperm in semen. The mechanisms underlying male infertility remain unknown. Currently, clinicians rely on semen analysis to predict ...

Varicoceles are a major cause of impaired spermatogenesis and the most common correctable cause of male infertility. They are found in approximately 40% of men with primary infertility and 80% of men with secondary infertility, although they also occur in 12% of men with normal semen parameters. The presence of a varicocele does not always affect spermatogenesis, as it has been reported that on...

BACKGROUND Human pathogens that can cause infertility may also affect sperm count and quality. Viral infections can be considered as direct and/or indirect cause of male factor infertility. OBJECTIVE Our goal was to investigate the prevalence of herpes simplex virus in the semen of infertile men attending the Avicenna Infertility Clinic, and to compare it with the herpes virus serology result...