A case-control study of the factors affecting male infertility.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after at least 1 year of unprotected intercourse. In about one third of infertile couples, a male factor is the primary problem. Thus, the present study aimed to determine the most common risk factors for male infertility in Iranian men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study included 268 men attending an infertility clinic in Shiraz, Iran. In this study, 161 fertile men were compared with 108 infertile ones regarding risk factors such as smoking habits, drug consumption, hernia, varicocele, job, and BMI. The data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis and t-test. RESULTS: The mean age of the fertile and infertile participants was 37.5 ± 7 and 36.3 ± 10, respectively. Our findings demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between male infertility and hernia, varicocele, taking ranitidine, job, and BMI. With an increase of 1 cigarette per day, there was a 1% decrease in the motility of the sperm. Moreover, with an increase of 1 year of cigarette smoking, 800,000 sperm are lost. CONCLUSION: The results revealed varicocele and hernia as the most common risk factors in men attending the infertility clinics in Shiraz. In addition, strenuous work could cause testicular injury.

Negative predictive value of the chorionic villous sampling (CVS) in diagnosis of thalassemia in genetic laboratory of Dastgheib Hospital, Shiraz, Iran, 2012.

BACKGROUND: Chorionic Villous Sampling (CVS) is a diagnostic method for determining genetic disorders. The present study aimed to determine the negative predictive value of the CVS in the diagnosis of major thalassemia in genetic laboratory of Dastgheib Hospital, Shiraz, Iran. METHODS: The present research was an evaluation diagnostic test conducted on 372 records of embryos examined through CVS in the genetic lab in 2010 and definitely diagnosed by electrophoresis after birth in 2012. The sensitivity and positive predictive value of the test were assessed for minor thalassemia. The negative predictive value and the specificity of this test were determined, as well. RESULTS: A total of 3 embryos (0.8%) were aborted due to testing. In this study, the sensitivity and specificity were 94.8% and 80.4%, respectively. Also, the negative predictive values for diagnosis of major and minor thalassemia were 100% and 89.2%, respectively. No relationships were found between the gestational age and the test results. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that CVS genetic testing in genetic laboratory of Dastgheib Hospital was valid and had a high diagnostic value. Thus, minor couples can undergo this test with relative safety in order to prevent major thalassemia.