Sperm concentration and normal sperm morphology decrease and follicle‐stimulating hormone level increases with age

OBJECTIVE To assess hormone levels, testicular volume, and semen characteristics of fertile men of various age groups. PATIENTS AND METHODS The records of 889 men who sought a vasectomy between September 1999 and March 2003 were reviewed. Patients were divided into five groups by age; we evaluated s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BJU international 2005-11, Vol.96 (7), p.1087-1091
Main Authors: Pasqualotto, Fábio F., Sobreiro, Bernardo P., Hallak, Jorge, Pasqualotto, Eleonora B., Lucon, Antônio M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
age
Aging - physiology
andrology
Biological and medical sciences
fertility
Follicle Stimulating Hormone - blood
FSH
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Infertility, Male - blood
Infertility, Male - pathology
Linear Models
Luteinizing Hormone - blood
Male
Mammalian male genital system
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Morphology. Physiology
Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases
semen
sperm
Sperm Count
Spermatozoa - cytology
Testis - anatomy & histology
Testosterone - blood
Vasectomy
Vertebrates: reproduction
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Summary:OBJECTIVE To assess hormone levels, testicular volume, and semen characteristics of fertile men of various age groups. PATIENTS AND METHODS The records of 889 men who sought a vasectomy between September 1999 and March 2003 were reviewed. Patients were divided into five groups by age; we evaluated semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, morphology and complex sperm motion variables. Follicle‐stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone levels and both testicular volumes were compared. RESULTS There were no differences among the groups in the levels of LH, testosterone, or right and left testicular volumes. There were differences among the five groups in FSH levels, semen volume, sperm concentration and motility. Normal morphology according to the World Health Organisation criteria was significantly lower in patients aged >45 years. From a linear regression analysis, semen volume, sperm concentration and motility decreased by 0.01 mL, 2.1%, and 0.27%, respectively, per year, and the FSH level increased by 0.27%. CONCLUSIONS Sperm concentration and motility decrease and FSH levels increase with age. Normal sperm morphology decreases from 45 years old. Thus, the ageing effect should be considered when proposing standard values for semen characteristics in routine semen analysis.
ISSN:1464-4096
1464-410X
DOI:10.1111/j.1464-410X.2005.05806.x