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Reproductive Health
Published in: Reproductive Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research

Tobacco smoking is associated with decreased semen quality

Authors: H. Asare-Anane, S. B. Bannison, Emmanuel K. Ofori, R. O. Ateko, A. T. Bawah, S. D. Amanquah, S. Y. Oppong, B. B. N. Gandau, J. B. Ziem

Published in: Reproductive Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

Tobacco smoking is a public health issue and has been implicated in adverse reproductive outcomes including semen quality. Available data however provides conflicting findings. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of tobacco smoking on semen quality among men in Ghana.

Methods

In this study, a total of 140 subjects were recruited, comprising 95 smokers and 45 non-smokers. Smokers were further categorized into mild, moderate and heavy smokers. Semen parameters such as sperm concentration, motility, viability and normal morphology were measured according to the World Health Organisation criteria.

Results

The study showed that smokers had significantly lower semen volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, total sperm count, sperm morphology, free testosterone and follicle stimulating hormone (p <0.05 respectively), compared with non-smokers. Smokers were at a higher risk of developing oligospermia, asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia (OR = 3.1, 4.2 and, 4.7; p <0.05) than non-smokers.

Conclusion

Results demonstrated a decline in semen quality in a dose dependent tobacco smoking manner.
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Metadata
Title
Tobacco smoking is associated with decreased semen quality
Authors
H. Asare-Anane
S. B. Bannison
Emmanuel K. Ofori
R. O. Ateko
A. T. Bawah
S. D. Amanquah
S. Y. Oppong
B. B. N. Gandau
J. B. Ziem
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1742-4755
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-016-0207-z

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