title: Poor semen parameters among infertile couples presenting at a gynaecological clinic of Federal Medical Centre Birnin Kudu North-west Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Male partners contribute significantly to infertile couple problem. The present study was undertaken to review the seminal fluid analysis (SFA) of couples presenting with inability to conceive at the gynecological clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State using World Health Organization 2010 criteria, identify the correlation between poor semen quality and age and to identify culture and sensitivity patterns of isolates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study. The sample size was 63 Ethical clearance was obtained. Patients' case records and laboratory registers were retrieved. The volume, viscosity, pH, sperm count, motility, and the morphology of the seminal fluid were determined. Semen m/c/s was done. Data were analyzed by using SPSS version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Il, USA). Descriptive statistics was used. Association between age and semen parameters were determined using Pearson's coefficient of correlations and Chi-square test and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  METHODS
  The proportion of infertile male with abnormal semen parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 308 couple presenting for infertility evaluation, only 63 male partners presented for SFA. This is 20.5% of the couples. After analysis, 52.38% were normospermic while 26.98% and 20.64% were azoospermic and oligospermic, respectively. Asthenospermia was the commonest motility/morphology abnormality occurring in 60.3%. The mean volume, sperm count, motility, morphology, and pH were 2.8 ± 1.8, 40.1 ± 52.3, 28.2 ± 27.7, 46.1 ± 35.6, and 8.3 ± 0.67, respectively. The volume, motility, morphology, and pH showed weak correlations with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Male partners are significant contributors to the infertile couple problems in this study; therefore awareness is needed in order to engage more males in evaluation and treatment of infertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Emmanuel Ajuluchukwu
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ugwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adewale
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ashimi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abubakar
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Obadire
keywords: Infertile couples; North-West Nigeria; rural setting; seminal fluid; tertiary hospital