Multiparametric descriptive and comparative analyses between fertile versus infertile men with severe oligozoospermia and azoospermia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52556/2587-3873.2025.3(105).05

Keywords:

male infertility, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, azoospermia, Y chromosome microdeletions, semen analysis, testicular ultrasound

Abstract

Male infertility represents a major global health concern, often associated with conditions such as severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and azoospermia. The aim of the study was to compare clinical, biochemical, and genetic characteristics between infertile men and fertile controls. A prospective case-control study was conducted involving 180 participants, including 90 infertile men (45 with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and 45 with azoospermia) and 90 fertile controls. Semen analysis, testicular ultrasound, vitamin D levels, and genetic testing.were performed. In men with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, significantly reduced mean values were observed for sperm concentration (1.77±2 million/mL), total sperm count (5.59±8 million), total motility (12.64±16%), progressive motility (7.93±12%), vitality (13.64±18%), and normal morphology (1.02±2%) compared to controls. Vitamin D levels were slightly higher in the study group (29.37±9.3 ng/mL) than in controls (25.38±10.2 ng/mL). Average testicular volumes were 12.50±5.47 mL (right) and 12.30±5.09 mL (left). Abnormal echotexture and echogenicity were noted in 24.6% and 31.5% of right testes and 15.6% and 25.5% of left testes, respectively. Y chromosome microdeletions (sY242, sY1291, sY255, sY254) were identified in 4.4% of cases. An abnormal karyotype was found in 7.8% of infertile participants, while 92.2% had a normal karyotype. Compared with fertile men, severe oligoasthenozoospermia and azoospermia show marked alterations in semen, testicular, genetic, and endocrine parameters.

References

AGARWAL A, BASKARAN S, PAREKH N, et al. Male infertility. In: Lancet. 2021;397(10271):319-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32667-2

SUN H, GONG TT, JIANG YT, et al. Global, regional, and national prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years for infertility in 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: results from a global burden of disease study, 2017. In: Aging (Albany NY). 2019;11(23):10952-91. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.102497

FAINBERG J, KASHANIAN JA. Recent advances in understanding and managing male infertility. In: F1000Res. 2019;8:F1000 Faculty Rev-670.

https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.17076.1

BHATTACHARYA I, SHARMA SS, MAJUMDAR SS. Etiology of male infertility: an update. In: Reprod Sci. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-023-01401-x

MINHAS S, BETTOCCHI C, BOERI L, et al. European Association of Urology guidelines on male sexual and reproductive health: 2021 update on male infertility. In: Eur Urol. 2021;80(5):603-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2021.08.014

EL SALAM MAA. Obesity, an enemy of male fertility: a mini review. In: Oman Med J. 2018;33(1):3-6. https://doi.org/10.5001/omj.2018.02

CRAIG JR, JENKINS TG, CARRELL DT, et al. Obesity, male infertility, and the sperm epigenome. In: Fertil Steril. 2017;107(4):848-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2017.02.115

WAHID B, BASHIR H, BILAL M, et al. Developing a deeper insight into reproductive biomarkers. In: Clin Exp Reprod Med. 2017;44(4):159-70. https://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2017.44.4.159

MACDONALD A, HERBISON G, SHOWELL M, et al. The impact of body mass index on semen parameters and reproductive hormones in human males: a systematic review with meta-analysis. In: Hum Reprod Update. 2009;16(3):293-311. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmp047

CHAVARRO JE, TOTH TL, WRIGHT DL, et al. Body mass index in relation to semen quality, sperm DNA integrity, and serum reproductive hormone levels among men attending an infertility clinic. In: Fertil Steril. 2010;93(7):2222-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.01.100

AHIRWAR R, MONDAL PR. Prevalence of obesity in India: a systematic review. In: Diabetes Metab Syndr. 2019;13(1):318-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsx.2018.08.032

BASTARDOT F, MARQUES-VIDAL P, VOLLENWEIDER P. Association of body temperature with obesity: the CoLaus study. In: Int J Obes (Lond). 2019;43(5):1026-34. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-018-0218-7

DARBANDI M, DARBANDI S, AGARWAL A, et al. Reactive oxygen species and male reproductive hormones. In: Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2018;16(1):87. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-018-0406-2

BLOMBERG JM. Vitamin D and male reproduction. In: Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2014;10(3):175-86. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrendo.2013.262

CORBETT ST, HILL O, NANGIA AK. Vitamin D receptor found in human sperm. In: Urology. 2006;68(6):1345-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2006.09.011

DE ANGELIS C, GALDIERO M, PIVONELLO C, et al. The role of vitamin D in male fertility: a focus on the testis. In: Rev Endocr Metab Disord. 2017;18(3):285-305. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11154-017-9425-0

CITO G, BECATTI M, NATALI A, et al. Redox status assessment in infertile patients with non-obstructive azoospermia undergoing testicular sperm extraction: a prospective study. In: Andrologia. 2020;52(2):e12721. https://doi.org/10.1111/andr.12721

KRUK J, ABOUL-ENEIN HY, KŁADNA A, et al. Oxidative stress in biological systems and its relation with pathophysiological functions: the effect of physical activity on cellular redox homeostasis. In: Free Radic Res. 2019;53(5):497-521. https://doi.org/10.1080/10715762.2019.1612059

IOMMIELLO VM, ALBANI E, DI ROSA A, et al. Ejaculate oxidative stress is related with sperm DNA fragmentation and round cells. In: Int J Endocrinol. 2015; 2015:321901. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/321901

AGARWAL A, RANA M, QIU E, et al. Role of oxidative stress, infection and inflammation in male infertility. In: Andrologia. 2018;50(11):e13126.

https://doi.org/10.1111/and.13126

TUTTELMANN F, WERNY F, COOPER TG, et al. Clinical experience with azoospermia: aetiology and chances for spermatozoa detection upon biopsy. In: Int J Androl. 2011;34(4):291-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2605.2010.01087.x

GUDEMAN SR, TOWNSEND B, FISCHER K, et al. Etiology of azoospermia in a military population. In: J Urol. 2015;193(4):1318-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2014.10.048

ARIAN I, DUMBRAVEANU I, GHENCIU V, et al. Testicular asymmetry in contrast with hormones and semen parameters in idiopathic severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia syndrome. In: Arch Balk Med Union. 2024;59(1):83-93. https://doi.org/10.31688/ABMU.2024.59.1.11

ARIAN I, DUMBRAVEANU I, GHENCIU V, et al. Histological and immunohistochemical outcomes after microdissection TESE in contrast with hormonal profile, testis volume and genetics in patients with azoospermia. In: J Med Life. 2023;16(1):144-52. https://doi.org/10.25122/jml-2022-0336

Downloads

Published

2026-02-03

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

[1]
Arian, I. et al. 2026. Multiparametric descriptive and comparative analyses between fertile versus infertile men with severe oligozoospermia and azoospermia. Public Health Economy and Management in Medicine. 3(105) (Feb. 2026), 32–40. DOI:https://doi.org/10.52556/2587-3873.2025.3(105).05.

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Similar Articles

1-10 of 97

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.