Pattern of Semen Fluid Abnormalities in Male Partners of Infertile Couples in Southeastern, Nigeria

The incidence of male infertility is increasing in our environment. There is a need to evaluate the partern of abnormality with a view to recommending appropriate interventions. We aimed to to analyze the seminal fluid parameters of the male partners of the infertile couples managed in the hospital over a 12 month period and to identify the pattern of abnormalities. Aretrospective study of all the semen samplesof male partners of infertile couples sumitted for analysis to the microbiology laboratory of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi Nigeria between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2006 The reports of the semen fluid analysis were retrieved from the records department and suplemented with the laboratory register. Out of the 348 semen sample reports evaluated, 237 (68.0%) had semen fluid abnormalities. 104(30.0%) had single factor abnormalities while 133(38.0%) had combined factor anomalies. Asthenozoospermia 58(16.7%) was the main single abnormality, while Astheno-oligozoospermia 51(14.7%) and Astheno-oligoteratozoospermia (13.2%) were the major combined factor abnormalities detected. Very few 5(1.4%) of the patients had azospermia. The study showed a high rate of semen fluid abnormalities among the male partners of infertile women in our environment. The high preponderance of poor motility emphasizes the need to include men in programmes aimed at reducing sexually transmitted infections in Nigeria. Key words: Semen, abnormalities, male partners, infertilit