Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

No Decline in Semen Quality Among Potential Sperm Donors in Sydney, Australia, Between 1983 and 2001

  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose : To determine whether the quality of semen has changed over time in men screened for semen donation.

Methods : All 448 men volunteering for semen donation between 1983 and 2001 at a donor insemination clinic in Sydney, Australia, were included in this longitudinal single centre observational analysis of semen parameters. There was no selection for fertility or marital status but all volunteers had to be aged between 18 and 40 years.

Results : There was no change in the total sperm count during the study period (r = 0.065, P = 0.17) using a linear regression model. The ejaculate volume did not change (r = 0.002, P = 0.97), while an increase in sperm motility was seen (Spearman R = 0.194, P < 0.001).

Conclusion : The semen quality of volunteers for sperm donation presenting to our donor insemination clinic in Sydney between 1983 and 2001 has not declined.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Macomber D, Saunders M: The spermatozoa count: Its value in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of sterility. Engl J Med 1929;200:981-984

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hammen R: Studies on Impaired Fertility in Man with Special Reference to the Male. Copenhagen, Einar Munksgaard, 1944

    Google Scholar 

  3. MacLeod J, Heim LM: Characteristics and variations in semen specimens in 100 normal young men. J Urol 1945;54:474-482

    Google Scholar 

  4. World Health Organization: Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Sperm-Cervical Mucus Interaction. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  5. Carlsen E, Giwercman A, Keiding N, Skakkebaek NE: Evidence for decreasing quality of semen during the past 50 years. BMJ 1992;305:609-613

    Google Scholar 

  6. Sharpe RM, Skakkebaek NE: Are oestrogens involved in falling sperm counts and disorders of the male reproductive tract? Lancet 1993;341:1392-1396

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kavlock RJ, Daston GP, DeRosa C: Research needs for the risk assessment of health and environmental effects of endocrine disruptors: A report of the U.S. EPA-sponsored workshop. Environ Health Perspect 1996;104(Suppl 4):715-740

    Google Scholar 

  8. Auger J, Kunstmann JM, Czyglik F, Jouannet P: Decline in semen quality among fertile men in Paris during the past 20 years. N Engl J Med 1995;332:281-285

    Google Scholar 

  9. Adamopoulos DA, Pappa A, Nicopoulou S, Andreou E, Karamertzanis M, Michopoulos J, Deligianni V, Simou M: Seminal volume and total sperm number trends in men attending subfertility clinics in the greater Athens area during the period 1977-1993. Hum Reprod 1996;11:1936-1941

    Google Scholar 

  10. Irvine S, Cawood E, Richardson D, MacDonald E, Aitken J: Evidence of deteriorating semen quality in the United Kingdom: Birth cohort study in 577 men in Scotland over 11 years. BMJ 1996;312:467-471

    Google Scholar 

  11. Van Waeleghem K, De Clercq N, Vermeulen L, Schoonjans F, Comhaire F: Deterioration of sperm quality in young healthy Belgian men. Hum Reprod 1996;11:325-329

    Google Scholar 

  12. Bujan L, Mansat A, Pontonnier F, Mieusset R: Time series analysis of sperm concentration in fertile men in Toulouse, France between 1977 and 1992. BMJ 1996;312:471-472

    Google Scholar 

  13. Fisch H, Goluboff ET, Olson JH, Feldshuh J, Broder SJ, Barad DH: Semen analyses in 1283 men from the United States over a 25 year period: No decline in quality. Fertil Steril 1996;65:1009-1014

    Google Scholar 

  14. Paulsen C, Berman N, Wang C: Data from men in greater Seattle area reveals no downward trend in semen quality: Further evidence that deterioration of semen quality is not geographically uniform. Fertil Steril 1996;65:1015-1020

    Google Scholar 

  15. Benshushan A, Shoshani O, Paltiel O, Schenker JG, Lewin A: Is there really a decrease in sperm parameters among healthy young men? A survey of sperm donations during 15 years. J Assist Reprod Genet 1997;14:347-353

    Google Scholar 

  16. World Health Organization: Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Sperm-Cervical Mucus Interaction. Singapore, Press Concern, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  17. World Health Organization: Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Sperm-Cervical Mucus Interaction. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1987

    Google Scholar 

  18. World Health Organization: Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Sperm-Cervical Mucus Interaction. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1992

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kidd SA, Eskenazi B, Wyrobek AJ: Effects of male age on semen quality and fertility: A review of the literarure. Fertil Steril 2001;75:237-248

    Google Scholar 

  20. Handelsman DJ: Sperm output of healthy men in Australia: Magnitude of bias due to self-selected volunteers.HumReprod 1997;12:2701-2705

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hendelsman DJ, Conway AJ, Boylan LM, Turtle JR: Testicular function in potential sperm donors: Normal ranges and the effects of smoking and varicocele. Int J Androl 1984;7:369-382

    Google Scholar 

  22. Olsen GW, Bodner KM, Ramlow JM, Ross CE, Lipshultz LI: Have sperm counts been reduced 50 percent in 50 years? A statistical model revisited. Fertil Steril 1995;63:887-893

    Google Scholar 

  23. Fisch H, Goluboff ET: Geographic variations in sperm counts: Apotential cause of bias in studies of semen quality.Fertil Steril 1996;65:1044-1046

    Google Scholar 

  24. Larsen S, Abell A, Bonde JP: Selection bias in occupational sperm studies. Am J Epidemiol 1998;147:681-685

    Google Scholar 

  25. Tummon IS, Mortimer D: Decreasing quality of semen. BMJ 1992;305:1228-1229

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ginsburg J, Okolo S, Prelevic G, Hardiman P: Residence in the London area and sperm density. Lancet 1994;343:230

    Google Scholar 

  27. Suominen J, Vierula M: Semen quality of Finnish men. BMJ 1993;306:1579

    Google Scholar 

  28. Vierula M, Niemi M, Keiski A, Saaranen M, Saarikoski S, Suominen J: High and unchanged sperm counts of Finnish men. Int J Androl 1996;19:11-17

    Google Scholar 

  29. Stewart TM, Brown EH, Venn A, Mbizvo MT, Farley TMM, Garrett C, Baker HWG: Feasibility of surveillance of changes in human fertility and semen quality. Hum Reprod 2001;16:177-187

    Google Scholar 

  30. Setchell BP: Sperm counts in semen of farm animals 1932-1995. Int J Androl 1997;20:209-214

    Google Scholar 

  31. Handelsman DJ, Dunn SM, Conway AJ, Boylan LM, Jansen RP: Psychological and attitudinal profiles in donors for artificial insemination. Fertil Steril 1985;43:95-101

    Google Scholar 

  32. Farkas GM, Sine LF, Evans IM: Personality, sexuality, and demographic differences between volunteers and nonvolunteers for a laboratory study of male sexual behaviour. Arch Sex Behav 1978;7:513-520

    Google Scholar 

  33. Strassberg DS, Lowe K: Volunteer bias in sexuality research. Arch Sex Behav 1995;24:369-382

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia

    Michael F. Costello

  2. Department of Reproductive Medicine, Royal Hospital for Women, Sydney, Australia

    Michael F. Costello, Peter Sjoblom, Youala Haddad, Stephen J. Steigrad & Edward G. Bosch

Authors
  1. Michael F. Costello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter Sjoblom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Youala Haddad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Stephen J. Steigrad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Edward G. Bosch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael F. Costello.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Costello, M.F., Sjoblom, P., Haddad, Y. et al. No Decline in Semen Quality Among Potential Sperm Donors in Sydney, Australia, Between 1983 and 2001. J Assist Reprod Genet 19, 284–290 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015729314081

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015729314081

Search

Navigation