Idiopathic secondary azoospermia occurrence in men with oligospermia over time.

PURPOSE: To investigate the occurrence of idiopathic secondary azoospermia (ISA) in men with oligospermia over time and identify risk factors for ISA in this population. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted in a university-affiliated male infertility clinic. A total of 1056 oligospermic men (concentration < 15 million/ml (M/ml) and no azoospermia) with at least two SA done between 2000 and 2019 were included. The primary outcome was the occurrence of ISA by oligospermia severity. RESULTS: In the entire cohort, 31 patients (2.9%) eventually became azoospermic with time. The ≤ 1 M/ml extremely severe oligospermia (ESO) group (283 patients) had significantly higher rates of ISA in each time period compared to the 1-5 M/ml severe oligospermia (SO) (310 patients) and 5-15 M/ml mild oligospermia (MO) (463 patients) groups (p < 0.05 for all comparisons), with rates of 21.1% in the ESO, 4.8% in the SO, and 0% in the MO group (p = 0.02) after 3-5 years, reaching 32% after 5 years in the ESO group compared to no cases in the other two groups (p = 0.006). Parameters shown to predict ISA were initial concentration < 1 M/ml (OR 22.12, p < 0.001) and time interval of > 3 and 5 years (OR 4.83 and 6.84, p = 0.009 and < 0.001, respectively), whereas testosterone levels were negatively associated with ISA (OR 0.88, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Men with ≤ 1 M/ml, especially those with low testosterone levels, have a dramatically increased chance of becoming azoospermic with time. Therefore, sperm banking should be recommended in these cases. Men with a sperm concentration above 1 M/ml have low chances of becoming azoospermic, even after 3 or more years.

Intra-individual changes in sperm parameters and total motile count with time among infertile men.

BACKGROUND: Paternal age association with sperm parameters has been previously studied, demonstrating a decrease in semen volume, sperm motility, and sperm morphology, but not in sperm concentration. However, scarce data exists on the individual intra-personal changes in semen parameters with time. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes in semen parameters and total motile count of infertile men over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, infertile men without known risk factors for sperm quality deterioration and at least two semen analyses done > 3 months apart, between 2005 and 2021, were evaluated. Allocation to groups was according to time between first and last semen analyses - 3-12 months, 1-3 years, 3-5 years, and > 5 years. Basic characteristics and first and last semen analyses were compared. The primary outcome was the change in sperm parameters and the secondary outcome was the occurrence of a total motile count < 5 million in men with an initial total motile count > 10 million. RESULTS: A total of 2018 men were included in the study. The median age at first semen analyses was 36.2 (interquartile range: 32.8-40.1) years and the median time between semen analyses was 323 days (range 90-5810 days). The overall trend demonstrated an increase in concentration in the 3-12 months and the 1-3 years groups, whereas volume, motility, and morphology remained similar in these time groups. Semen analyses done more than 5 years apart showed decreased volume (p < 0.05), motility (p < 0.05) morphology (p < 0.05), and steady sperm concentration. Significant declines in TMCs were found over time (p < 0.001), with 18% and 22% of infertile men with an initial total motile count > 10 million dropping to < 5 million after 3 and 5 years, respectively. The factors independently predictive of total motile count < 5 M in the last semen analyses in men with an initial total motile count of > 10 M in a multivariate logistic regression model were baseline volume (odds ratio 0.80, p = 0.03), baseline total motile count (odds ratio 0.98, p = 0.01) and time between semen analyses - 3-5 years (odds ratio 3.79, p < 0.001) and > 5 years (odds ratio 3.49, p = 0.04) DISCUSSION: Our study demonstrates, at the individual level, that while improvement in sperm concentration is observed in the first year and between 1 and 3 years, possibly due to fertility treatments, fertility-related counseling, and lifestyle changes, semen parameters decline with time over 3 years in individuals. Of significance, close to 22% of men with an initial total motile count > 10 million (a range where spontaneous pregnancy is attainable) declined to < 5 million (a range usually indicating a need for in-vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection) over 5 years. This data could contribute to individualized family planning for infertile men regarding the mode and timing of conception and the need for sperm banking, in order to minimize the need for future fertility treatments.

Improved sperm DNA fragmentation levels in infertile men following very short abstinence of 3-4 hours.

Background: Limited data exists on possible approaches to improve sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) when no identifiable cause is found. The effect of short abstinence on sperm parameters has been extensively studied, but rarely reported on the effect on DFI in infertile men. In this study, we aimed to determine whether a second ejaculate provided after very short abstinence demonstrates lower DFI rates in infertile men. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada, a tertiary university affiliated hospital. All men having DFI testing in addition to the standard semen analysis were identified via a prospectively collected database. Infertile men were instructed to provide two semen samples 3-4 hours apart (the first sample was given after 2-5 days of abstinence) to test the effect on DFI levels. Data analysis was performed for the comparison of the change in sperm parameters and DFI between samples and between men with DFI above and under 30%. Results: A total of 52 men provided double ejaculates 3-4 hours apart. In the entire group, DFI decreased from 38.9%±21.4% to 35.1%±21.6% in the second sample (P<0.001). Semen volume was lower on the second sample (2.3±1.4 vs. 1.5±0.9 mL, P<0.001), while the remaining parameters did not change. Forty out of 52 patients (76.9%) had improved DFI (average of 6.0±4.0 percentage points). Change in DFI varied with 22/52 (42.3%) and 7/52 (13.5%) of patients found to have decreases in DFI >5% and >10% in the second ejaculate, respectively. For men with DFI of 30-40%, 64% (7/11) of DFIs reduced to the under 30% range. First DFI value was the only parameter associated with DFI decrease to under 30% in multivariate models [odds ratio (OR), 0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.39-0.98; P=0.04]. Conclusions: This study identified significant improvements in DFI in infertile men providing a second sample after 3-4 hours. Controlled trials are needed to determine if reproductive outcomes are improved using a second ejaculate for infertile men with high initial sperm DFI values.

Intra-individual changes in sperm DNA fragmentation levels over short and long time periods.

PURPOSE: We aimed to examine the longitudinal, intra-personal changes in DNA fragmentation index (DFI) over time. METHODS: Men who performed at least two DFI measurements (using sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) between 2003 and 2019 were included in this study and allocated to groups by time between DFI tests: < 1 year, 1-3 years, 3-5 years, and > 5 years. An analysis of DFI change over time according to age groups was additionally performed. Regression models were developed to predict changes in DFI with time. RESULTS: Overall, 225 patients had two or more DFI measurements done at least a month apart (mean of 586.7± 710.0 days). The < 1 year (n = 124) and 1-3 years (n = 68) groups demonstrated decreased DFI levels, while an increase in DFI was shown in 3-5 years (n = 21) and more than 5 years (n = 12) groups - 7.1 ± 14.9%, - 4.5 ± 13.4%, + 3.2 ± 8.4%, and + 10.8 ± 18.0%, respectively, p < 0.001). This trend was similarly shown in age subgroups of under 40 years and 40-50 years at baseline DFI. Linear regression models showed that the factors predictive of DFI increase are baseline DFI and > 3 years between DFI tests. CONCLUSION: This study shows that DFI, in men being investigated for infertility, initially decreases in the first 3 years of follow-up, and then increases over time with the highest increase occurring after 5 years interval (an average increase of 10.8%). Testing infertile men's DFI levels at first evaluation may contribute to personalized consult regarding future reproductive outcomes.

Impact of case volume per year on flexible Ureteroscopy practice: an internet based survey.

BACKGROUND: To report current worldwide variation in techniques and clinical practice of flexible ureteroscopy (FURS) among endourologists of different case volumes per year. METHODS: Two invitations to complete an internet survey were emailed to Endourological Society members. Some of survey questions asked about indications of using FURS for renal and upper ureteral stones. Others were concerned with clinical practice of FURS (such as preoperative stenting, use of ureteral access sheath (UAS) and safety guidewire, technique of Laser lithotripsy and fragment retrieval, and post-FURS stenting. Responders were distributed into two groups; high-volume (> 100 cases/year) and low-volume surgeons (< 100 cases/year) and data were compared between both groups. RESULTS: Responses were received from 146 endourologists all over the world (62 high-volume and 84 low-volume). FURS for intrarenal stone > 20 mm was used by 61% of high-volume surgeons compared with 28.6% for low-volume (P < 0.001). Semirigid URS was used for upper ureteric stones in 68% among high-volume group and 82% in low-volume group (P = 0.044). UAS was used by 62% in low-volume group and 69% in high volume group (P = 0.516). Laser stone dusting was preferred by 63% in low-volume group versus 45% by high-volume (P = 0.031). More responders in low-volume group preferred to leave the stent for 6 weeks (P = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: The use of FURS for treating upper tract calculi has expanded by high volume endourologists to include large renal stones > 20 mm. Low-volume surgeons prefer to use semi-rigid URS for treatment of upper ureteral stones, to apply Laser stone dusting and maintain ureteral stents for longer periods.