Socio-psycho-behavioural factors associated with male semen quality in China: results from 1346 healthy men in Chongqing.
BACKGROUND
Human semen quality in China has decreased in the last few decades. A previous study found that 61.1% of healthy males in Chongqing City in Southwest China had abnormal semen parameters values according to 1999 World Health Organization criteria.


OBJECTIVE
This cross-sectional study explored the associations between socio-psycho-behavioural factors and semen quality in Chongqing City.


METHODS
The study participants comprised 1346 eligible healthy men who were examined and researched in respect to 15 socio-psycho-behavioural factors.


RESULTS
Men from a higher occupational class had better semen volume (β coefficient 1.18, p=0.034), while men who often wore underwear made from man-made fibres had a lower percentage of morphologically normal sperm (β coefficient 0.82, p=0.001). As regards psychological stress, men with less stress had an increased total sperm count and percentage of morphologically normal sperm (β coefficient 1.19 and 1.25 respectively, p=0.02 and 0.04 respectively). The other 12 factors examined in the study demonstrated no significant association with semen quality in Chongqing.


CONCLUSIONS
Semen quality can be impacted by socio-psycho-behavioural factors (occupational class, psychological stress and wearing man-made fibre underwear). A health programme that deals directly with psychological health and healthy lifestyle, and the implementation of policies that address social factors for men may play a part in the improvement of male reproductive health in China.
Third Military Medical University, Department of Social Medicine and Health Service Management, Chongqing, China.
Ying
Y
Li
Yafei
Y
Li
Niya
N
Zhou
Xue
X
Han
Mingfu
M
Ma
Lianbing
L
Li
Min
M
Cai
Zhihong
Z
Cui
Hui
H
Lin
Ziyuan
Z
Zhou
Hongyan
H
Xiong
Jia
J
Cao
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011584:Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult