Comparison between Infrared Thermographic Scrotal Temperature Index and Semen Quality among Men attending an Infertility Clinic

摘要

Purpose: It has been suggested that scrotal temperatureand semen quality are closely associated. The purpose of thisstudy is to explore the associations of the scrotal temperaturemeasured by the infrared thermography and semen qualityamong infertility clinic outpatients.Methods:We performed a retrospective chart reviewof outpatientswho visited at Conmaul Hospital, Seoul, Republic ofKorea from March 2013 to February 2015. In this study, 48outpatients who had taken scrotal thermography and semenanalysis with a difference of less than a month were included.Semen analysis was done according to 2010 World HealthOrganization (WHO) guidelines. Abnormal semen parameterwas defined as oligozoospermia (O), asthenozoospermia (A)and teratozoospermia (T) according to 2010 WHO guidelines.Scrotal temperature index (STI) was defined as mean left andright skin temperature difference ( T) between the thigh andtesticle.We divided patients into two groups as High STI group(n=26) and Low STI group (n=22) by mean STI (1.17) of 48 outpatients.Chi-square test was used to analyze the incidence ofat least two abnormal semen parameters between two groups.Results: There were 10 patients (OT=1, AT=7, OAT=2) and2 patients (AT=1, OT=1) with at least two abnormal semenparameters in High STI group (n=26) and LowSTI group (n=22),respectively. High STI group was associated with increasedincidences for at least two abnormal semen parameters thanLow STI group (OR= 6.25; 95% CI 1.195-32.687, p=0.019).Conclusion: In the hypothesis testing using chi-squaremethod, there was a significant difference of incidence ofat least two abnormal semen parameters according to STI.We suggest that the infrared thermography may provide thesemen quality information. Further studies with large samplesare needed.