Seminal fluid parameters of male partners of infertile couples seeking care at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital

Background: Seminal fluid analysis is essential in the evaluation of the male partner of infertile couple. Available data suggest an increase in male-related factors among infertile couples seeking fertility treatment. Seminal fluid analysis performed using standardized methods can identify several causes of male-factor infertility. The latest World Health Organization (2010) guidelines for the laboratory examination and processing of human semen allows for standardization and identification of the possible causes of male-factor infertility. This study aimed to determine the pattern of seminal fluid analysis of male partners of infertile couple presenting to the fertility (gynaecological and urological) clinics of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).Methods: This was a retrospective study of the semen parameters of male partners of infertile couple that were evaluated at LUTH, from January 2018 to December 2019. The medical records of all male partners of infertile couples who had seminal fluid analysis were reviewed and the relevant seminal fluid parameters were collected using a standardized questionnaire.Results: A total of 604 male partners of couples with infertility sought fertility treatment during the study period. Out of the 604, 502 (83.1%) of the participants had complete seminal fluid result and these data were included in final analysis. The mean (SD) age of subjects was 42.1 (7.7) years. About three-quarter (73.1%) of the subjects have abnormal semen parameters. The most frequent semen abnormality was asthenozoospermia (55.8%) followed by oligozoospermia (39.4%).Conclusions: Male factor is still common cause of infertility among infertile couple seeking treatment in our environment