Seasonal variation of human sperm cells among 4,422 semen samples: A retrospective study in Turkey.
We aimed to assess the possible presence of a seasonal pattern in three parameters of semen analysis: sperm concentration, morphology, and motility as a function of the time of ejaculation and sperm production (spermatogenesis) in normal and oligozoospermic men. This retrospective study included a consecutive series of 4,422 semen samples that were collected from patients as a part of the basic evaluation of the infertile couples attending the Reproductive Endocrine Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary women's hospital in Ankara, Turkey, between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013. The samples were classified according to sperm concentration: ≥15 x106/mL as normozoospermic samples and 4 -14.99 x106/mL as oligozoospermic samples and seasonal analysis of the semen samples were carried out separately. When the data was analyzed according to the season of semen production, there was no seasonal effect on the sperm concentration. A gradual and consistent decrease in the rate of sperm with fast forward motility was observed from spring to fall with a recovery noticed during the winter. The percentage of sperms with normal morphology was found to be statistically significantly higher in the spring samples compared with the summer samples (p=0.001). Both normozoospermic and oligozoospermic semen samples appeared to have better sperm parameters in spring and winter. The circannual variation of semen parameters may be important in diagnosis and treatment desicions.


BACKGROUND
WHO: World Health Organization; mRNA:messenger ribonucleic acid.
a Department of Reproductive Medicine and Infertility , Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Women's Health Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
Runa
R
Ozelci
a Department of Reproductive Medicine and Infertility , Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Women's Health Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
Saynur
S
Yılmaz
a Department of Reproductive Medicine and Infertility , Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Women's Health Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
Berna
B
Dilbaz
a Department of Reproductive Medicine and Infertility , Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Women's Health Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
Funda
F
Akpınar
a Department of Reproductive Medicine and Infertility , Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Women's Health Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
Derya
D
Akdag Cırık
a Department of Reproductive Medicine and Infertility , Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Women's Health Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
Serdar
S
Dilbaz
a Department of Reproductive Medicine and Infertility , Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanım Women's Health Training and Research Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
Aslı
A
Ocal
D000328:Adult; D001723:Birth Rate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D014421:Turkey
Infertility; seasonal sperm pattern; semen quality; sperm motility