Semen and Spermatozoa Characteristics in Alcohol Users and Non-Users
Tanuja Lella
Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chennai–603103, Tamil Nadu, India.
A. Ruckmani
Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chennai–603103, Tamil Nadu, India.
N. Pandiyan Pandiyan
Department of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, Chettinad Super Speciality Hospital, Kelambakkam, Chennai – 603103, Tamil Nadu, India.
R. Arunkumar
Department of Pharmacology, Chettinad Hospital & Research Institute, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Kelambakkam, Chennai–603103, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: Increasing infertility rate worldwide raises research to investigate plausible reason health community. To find out the characteristics of semen and spermatozoa in alcohol users and compare these characteristics with that of non-users of alcohol.
Methodology: The data on alcohol use and semen analysis were obtained from case records of patients reported to the Department of Andrology & Reproductive Medicine of a tertiary care hospital for a period of one year from January 2018 to December 2018. The semen volume, sperm concentration, motility and morphology in alcohol users were compared with non-users.
Results: A total of 231 patients had reported to the Department of Andrology & Reproductive Medicine during the study period. Among them 81 (35.06%) were alcohol users and 150 (64.94%) alcohol non-users. Analysis of their semen reports revealed that the difference in semen volume and sperm morphology was not found to be statistically significant, but the sperm concentration and progressive motility of spermatozoa showed significant reduction in alcohol users compared to non – users (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The semen volume and sperm quality were found to be low in alcohol users. Among the spermatozoa characteristics, sperm concentration and motility were significantly reduced in alcohol users.
Keywords: Alcohol, spermatozoa, semen