Semen quality of suspected infertile Ethiopians at Family Guidance Association of Ethiopia (FGAE) Central Clinic, Addis Ababa: a retrospective review.

Abnormal semen quality is often associated with male infertility. The objective of this retrospective study was to determine the quality of semen in suspected infertile Ethiopians. All individual infertility records from Jan. 1, 1991 to June 30, 1995 were retrieved and the first semen analysis results of 914 subjects were analyzed. Other information like demographic data and VDRL test results were also collected. Ninety males (10%) came themselves first for infertility investigation while the rest were approached through their female partners. Town dwellers were 89% and 61% had secondary and above educational level, but only 11.2% gave history of use of fertility period. There were 913 semen specimen examined since one was aspermic. Of the total, only 30% semen specimens were normal in all the parameters. The remaining (70%) had abnormalities in one or more parameters; like azoospermia 26%, asthenozoospermia 31%, hypovolemia 47% and their combinations. Among the spermatozoa identified sample group (673), asthenozoospermia and oligospermia make 42% and 11% respectively. The frequent association of hypooligospermia with other parameter abnormalities was noted. The review indicated poor quality of semen parameters but needs further research under quality controlled standard analysis for international comparison.