Introduction/Aim. Seminal fluid analysis (SFA) plays a crucial
role in helping infertility clinics diagnose the underlying
reason of male infertility. The aim of the study was to
investigate seminal fluid patterns of male partners of an
infertile couple with apparently fertile female partners.
Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted
between January 2019 and December 2022. Patients were attending
consultations for delayed conception for more than 12 months
with apparently fertile female partner.
Results. Four hundred fifty-three patients were included in the
study. The distribution of patients according to age groups
showed that 277 patients were young, aged 21 - 30 years (61%).
Two hundred sixty-two (58%) patients complained of infertility
for 12 - 24 months duration. Four hundred twenty-nine (94.7%)
patients had normal semen volume. In terms of sperm count, 174
patients had below the normal sperm count. Sperm concentrations
also showed a great decline with advancing age. Motility
parameters were shown to be poor. Sperm morphology findings were
relatively good. Results of the current study reflects the
impact of infertility on young age groups (21-30 years) as 277
(61%) cases of infertility manifests in this age.
One hundred fifty-eight (34.8%) patients were suffering
from low sperm count which tend to get lower with increasing
age. Motility is known to have a stronger impact on fertility
rate compared to morphology.
Conclusion. Low motility is caused by several factors which are
highly prevalent in society as compared to abnormal morphology
factors, including: smoking, drinking alcohol, low exercise,
stress, obesity, while morphology on the other hand is affected
by other factors which are less prevalent in society.
Keywords: SFA, morphology, motility,
liquefaction
Corresponding author:
Zaid Al-Attar
e-mail:
zaidattar@kmc.uobaghdad.edu.iq