A 5-year analysis of semen parameters in Saudi Arabian men attending infertility clinics

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate semen parameters in infertile Saudi Arabian men. METHODS: In this retrospective study, semen analysis and other clinical data were extracted from medical records of men attending an infertility clinic. Patients were stratified according to smoking status and presence or absence of varicocele. RESULTS: The study included 425 patients. Nonsmokers (n = 322) had significantly higher serum testosterone and sperm motility than smokers (n = 194). Serum testosterone, semen volume, motility, morphology, sperm/ejaculation and sperm count were significantly higher in patients without varicocele (n = 328) than in those with varicocele (n = 188). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, smoking and the presence of varicocele had negative effects on semen parameters in infertile men.