title: Comparison of semen quality in older and younger men attending an andrology clinic.
abstract: The effects of age on semen quality were analysed in patients referred to an andrology outpatient clinic in a retrospective study covering a period of 3 years. Semen analyses of older men (n = 66; > or = 50 years; median: 53) were compared with those of young patients (n = 134; 21-25 years; median 24). The duration of sexual abstinence was longer among older patients (median: 5.5 vs. 5.0 days; + 10%, P < 0.05). Even after adjustment for duration of sexual abstinence, progressive motility (- 27%, P < 0.01), percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa (- 44%, P < 0.01) and semen volume (- 29%, P < 0.0005) were significantly lower in older than in younger men. Impaired sperm morphology was mainly attributed to abnormal staining of flagella (+ 50%, P < 0.05) and an increased portion of coiled or bent tails (+ 44%, P = 0.001) indicating epididymal dysfunction. Total sperm count and sperm concentration were unaffected by age. Age-dependent changes in accessory gland function, as indicated by fructose concentration (- 27%, P < 0.05), was correlated with lower semen volume. Moreover, serum testosterone levels were significantly reduced in the group of older men (median: 3.0 vs. 3.6 ng ml-1; -17%, P < 0.005).
authors.affiliation: Centre of Dermatology and Andrology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: H-C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schuppe
authors.forename: W-B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Schill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D014572:Urology
chemical_list: D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone