Relationship between age and semen parameters in men with normal sperm concentration: analysis of 6022 semen samples

This study evaluates retrospectively the relationship between age and semen parameters among men with normal sperm concentration. It was based on computerized data and performed in an Academic Fertility and IVF Unit. Six thousand and twenty-two semen samples with sperm concentrations of >= 20 x 10(6) ml(-1) were examined according to WHO criteria and analysed in relation to patients' age. For each age group, mean values +/- SD of semen volume, sperm concentration, percentage of motile spermatozoa, normal morphology, acrosome index, total sperm count/ejaculate, total motile sperm count/ejaculate and sexual abstinence duration were examined. A peak semen volume of 3.51 +/- 1.76 ml(-1) was observed at age >= 30 to < 35 years and a lowest volume of 2.21 +/- 1.23 ml(-1) was observed at age >= 55 years (P < 0.05). Sperm motility was found to be inversely related to age with peak motility of 44.39 +/- 20.69% at age < 25 years and lowest motility of 24.76 +/- 18.27% at age >= 55 years (P < 0.05). A reduction of 54% was observed for total motile sperm, between values of 103.34 +/- 107 x 10(6) at age >= 30 to < 35 years and 46.68 +/- 53.73 x 10(6) (P < 0.05) at age > 55 years. A statistically significant and inverse relationship was observed between semen volume, sperm quality and patient age, in spite of prolonged sexual abstinence duration. Top sperm parameters were observed at age >= 30 to < 35 years, while the most significant reduction in sperm parameters occurred after the age of 55 years.