Objective: To define the role of male infertility in black African couples in Senegal and to establish the semen profile. Material and Methods: We analysed 17,459 sperm counts and 5,563 post-coital tests from patients consulting for primary or secondary infertility between January 1982 and December 2002. Negative and deficient sperm counts of post-coital tests were studied to demonstrate the responsibility of male infertility. For sperm counts, we studied the patient's age, the mode of semen collection, the volume of ejaculate and semen characteristics. Results: Primary sterility (68.4) was twice as frequent as secondary sterility (31.6). Male infertility (31.7) was twice as frequent as female infertility (14.7). Twenty eight per cent of patients presented hypospermia. Isolated oligozoospermia was observed in 10 of cases and azoospermia was detected in 23 of cases. Qualitative sperm changes were observed in 44.3 of cases. A positive semen culture was reported in 21.3 of cases. Combinations (qualitative sperm changes and abnormalities of number) were observed in 43.4 of cases. Oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OATS) with spermatozoa with an elongated head, cytoplasmic remnants and angulation, characteristic of varicocele was significantly more frequent in patients with varicocele (97 of men with right varicocele and 98.2 of men with bilateral varicocele). Reactive epididymo-semino-prostatic dystrophy was observed in 11.9 of cases Conclusion: Male infertility plays a real role. The semen profile of the husband of a sterile couple in Senegal is characterized by the importance of polymorphic alterations such as oligo-astheno-teratospermia and secretory azoospermia.
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