Trends in sperm quality by computer-assisted sperm analysis of 49,189 men during 2015–2021 in a fertility center from China

BACKGROUND: Sperm quality, including semen volume, sperm count, concentration, and total and progressive motility (collectively, “semen parameters”), has declined in the recent decades. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) provides sperm kinematic parameters, and the temporal trends of which remain unclear. Our objective is to examine the temporal trend of both semen parameters and kinematic parameters in Shanghai, China, in the recent years. METHODS: This retrospective study analyzed semen parameters and kinematic parameters of 49,819 men attending our reproductive center by using CASA during 2015–2021. The total sample was divided into two groups: samples that surpassed the WHO guideline (2010) low reference limits (“above reference limit” group, ARL; n = 24,575) and samples that did not (“below reference limit” group, BRL; n = 24,614). One-way analysis of variance, Kruskal–Wallis test, independent samples t-test, and covariance analysis were used to assess the differences among groups. Year, age, and abstinence time were included in the multiple linear regression model of the ARL group to adjust the confounders and depict the trends in sperm quality. RESULTS: Among all the total sample and the ARL and BRL groups, the age of subjects increased in recent years. Semen volume and sperm count showed declined tendency with years in the total sample, the ARL and BRL groups, and the subgroup of age or abstinence time, whereas sperm velocities showed increased tendency with years on the contrary. The multiple linear regression model of the ARL group, adjusting for age and abstinence time, confirmed these trends. Semen volume (β1= −0.162; CI: −0.172, −0.152), sperm count (β1= −9.97; CI: −10.813, −9.128), sperm concentration (β1 = −0.535; CI: −0.772, −0.299), motility (β1 = −1.751; CI: −1.830, −1.672), and progressive motility (β1 = −1.12; CI: −0.201, −0.145) decreased with year, whereas curvilinear line velocity (VCL) (β1 = 3.058; CI: 2.912, 3.203), straight line velocity (VSL) (β1 = 2.075; CI: 1.990, 2.161), and average path velocity (VAP) (β1 = 2.305; CI: 2.224, 2.386) increased over time (all p < 0.001). In addition, VCL, VSL, and VAP significantly declined with age and abstinence time. CONCLUSION: The semen parameters declined, whereas the kinematic parameters increased over the recent years. We propose that, although sperm count and motility declined over time, sperm motion velocity increased, suggesting a possible compensatory mechanism of male fertility.