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Semen profiles of young men involved as bicycle taxi cyclists in Mangochi District, Malawi: A case-control study
Kipandula, W & Lampiao, F
Abstract
Aim
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the semen profiles of bicycle taxi
cyclists and healthy controls in Mangochi district, Malawi.
Methods
Semen samples were collected from young bicycle taxi cyclists after two to
three days of sexual abstinence. A control group, comprising young men
who were not bicycle taxi operators also submitted semen samples. Samples
were left to liquefy for 30 minutes before measurements were conducted
of volume, concentration, total motility, and progressive motility. This was
followed by preparation of morphology slides. Light microscopy was used
for sperm analysis.
Results
Semen parameters such as volume (1.66 ± 0.18 mL vs. 3.64 ± 0.17 mL; p
= 0.0001), concentration (28.31 ± 4.33 x 106/mL vs. 54.95 ± 5.93 x 106/
mL; p = 0.02) , total motility (56.98% ± 8.22% vs. 56.98% ± 8.22%; p
= 0.03), progressive motility (22.57% ± 3.35% vs. 59.69% ± 4.82%; p
= 0.004), and morphology (6.98% ± 3.23% vs. 19.73% ± 2.32%; p =
0.006) were significantly reduced in the bicycle taxi cyclists compared to
the healthy controls.
Conclusion
In this case-control study, bicycle taxi operators had lower semen volume,
concentration, total motility, and progressive motility, as well as a higher
concentration of abnormally shaped spermatocytes, compared to healthy
controls.
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