International Journal of Infertility & Fetal Medicine

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VOLUME 15 , ISSUE 3 ( September-December, 2024 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Seasonal Effects on Semen Parameters Affecting Male Fertility

Sudarshan Kale, Sarthak Gandhi, Sakshi Godghase, Ashish Aggarwal

Keywords : Male fertility, Seasonal variations, Semen parameters, Temperature

Citation Information : Kale S, Gandhi S, Godghase S, Aggarwal A. Seasonal Effects on Semen Parameters Affecting Male Fertility. Int J Infertil Fetal Med 2024; 15 (3):130-135.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10016-1357

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 30-03-2025

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2024; The Author(s).


Abstract

Objective: This research aimed to determine any potential effects of seasonal variations on semen parameters that may have a clinical implication for male fertility. Study design: This is a retrospective study carried out in a fertility center located in Pune, Maharashtra. Semen analysis reports were gathered and analyzed from databases for all male patients who visited the center over the 2-year period from March 2022 to March 2024. Materials and methods: A total of 1,423 male subjects were analyzed, of which 1,345 were included in the study. Patients with azoospermia, sperm oligozoospermia with asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia (SOAT), and absolute asthenozoospermia were excluded to avoid confounding factors. The patients were grouped into seasonal periods according to the date on which they visited the center and semen analysis was performed. Semen analysis was carried out according to the World Health Organization (WHO) handbook 2021. IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics version 26.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Sperm count, total motility, progressive motility, and morphology were significantly higher in the winter season, whereas they showed the lowest results in the monsoon comparatively. The volume of semen showed no statistically significant difference. Conclusion: Seasonal variations in semen parameters were observed, with decreased quality in the summer and monsoon seasons and better outcomes in winter. This should be considered in infertility management, as it can assist clinicians in guiding subfertile couples through treatment planning to the most beneficial time, especially if the male is asthenozoospermic, oligospermic, or teratozoospermic.


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