Effects of smoking on semen quality in infertile men in riyadh saudi arabia

Abstract AR

Objectives: To compare the quality of semen between smokers and non-smokers in infertile men in Saudia Arabia.

Methods: This is a prospective study performed in the Infertility Clinic of the Maternity and .

Children's Hospital in Riyadh Medical Complex in Riyadh.

One hundred semen samples were collected from infertile Saudi Arabian males who were smokers and non-smokers.

Semen analysis was done according to WHO recommendations.

Results: A higher percentage of primary infertility (57%) was observed in the smoker group.

In the non-smoker group, there was more secondary infertility (55%).

The age range from 26-30 years predominated in both groups.

Sperm count and total sperm count were significantly lower in the smokers compared to non-smokers, but semen volume and motility were not significantly reduced in the smoker group.

Normal spermatozoa with abnormal semen parameters (18%) was the main cause of male infertility in the smoker group whereas in the non-smoker group it was asthenozoospermia (27%).

Conclusion: A significant difference in sperm concentration between the smoker and non-smoker groups was observed, but there was no significant difference in other seminal parameters analyzed.

This observation could be due to the effect of smoking.