Pattern & risk factors of male infertility

Abstract

This is a case control study carried out in Omdurman Teaching hospital, Military Hospital, and Soba University Hospital. The study included 65 patients with confirmed male infertility and 195 fertile controls. The aim of the study is to evaluate the risk factors for male infertility, and the following results are obtained. There is statistically highly significant association between male infertility and increasing level of education (P = 0.000), past history of urethral discharge (P = 0.000), recurrent urethral discharge (P =0.000),longer duration of treatment of the discharge ( P = 0.000), and with burning micturition following intercourse (P = 0.000). There is also highly significant association between male infertility and history of testosterone therapy (P = 0.000), and history of urinary schistosomaisis (P = 0.004). The association of male infertility and exposure to toxic chemicals or pesticides and chronic use of certain drugs is also significant (P =0.015). There is no statistically significant association between male infertility and occupation, history of un-descended testis, loss of body hair and decreased shaving frequency, mumps orchitis, inguinal hernia repair, and history of testicular trauma and or torsion. The study does not show significant relation between male infertility and diabetes mellitus, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and extra marital sexual relations. 6 The study concluded that previous genital tract infection, exposure to toxic chemicals and pesticides, chronic use of certain drugs including testosterone therapy, and history of urinary schistosomaisis are risk factors for male infertility.