Evolution of semen quality in North-eastern Spain: a study in 22 759 infertile men over a 36 year period

A retrospective study was conducted in a large population to determine whether sperm quality has changed in North-eastern Spain between 1960 and 1996. From a total initial population of 22 759 men, two separate groups were studied: men with spermatozoa (n = 20 411) and those with azoospermia (n = 1364). After adjustment for age and sexual abstinence, multiple linear regression analyses were used to assess changes in semen parameters over time. A 0.2% decline was observed in semen volume in the spermatozoa group (P < 0.001). No significant increase (0.04%) in sperm count (× 106/ml) was observed in the spermatozoa group. There was a 0.4% increase in motile spermatozoa in the spermatozoa group (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant decline in normal spermatozoa (3.6%) in the spermatozoa group (P < 0.001). Of the total population, 1364 men had azoospermia (6.0%). The changes observed in the semen parameters analysed in this large population showed no evidence of a deteriorating sperm quality, although a statistically significant decline was observed in the percentage of normal spermatozoa.