[Impact of seasonal variation on pre- and post-thaw donor semen parameters].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship of seasonal variation with pre- and post-thaw semen parameters as well as the cryosurgical of human spermatozoa.


METHODS
A total of 6 414 semen samples were collected from 1 135 donors aged 22 - 32 years by Zhejiang Human Sperm Bank, and divided into spring, summer, autumn and winter groups according to the time of collection. All the samples underwent routine seminal analysis, and the sperm parameters were compared between different seasons. The sperm specimens were cryopreserved in aliquots and analyzed after thawing.


RESULTS
The semen volume was (2.92 +/- 1.17) ml in spring, significantly higher than in summer, autumn and winter ([2.71 +/- 1.07 ], [2.74 +/- 1.15] and [2.83 +/- 1.15] ml, P < 0.05). Sperm density was the highest in autumn ([105.60 +/- 39.76] x 10(6)/ml) as compared with the other three seasons ([101.18 +/- 40.16] x 10(6)/ml, [93.54 +/- 35.10] x 10(6)/ml, and [101.29 +/- 38.37] x 10(6)/ml, P < 0.05). The sperm progressive motility was the highest in spring ([58.49 +/- 10.04] %) and the cryosurgical of sperm the lowest in summer, with statistically significant differences from the other groups (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Seasonal variations affect human semen quality and cryosurgical of sperm. The semen volume, the percentage of progressive motile sperm, the cryosurgical of sperm, and the post-thaw density of progressive motile sperm are higher in spring than during the rest of the year.
Zhang
Xin-Zong
XZ
Zhejiang Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, China. zjhsb@zjhsb.com
Yao
Kang-Shou
KS
D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012662:Semen Preservation; D013074:Sperm Banks; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D014019:Tissue Donors; D055815:Young Adult