Relationship between Leukocytospermia and Sperm Count in Men Visiting Fertility Clinic of the Federal Medical Center Yenagoa Bayelsa State Nigeria.

Abstract

Sperm count, or sperm concentration measures the concentration of sperm in a man's ejaculate, distinguished from total sperm count, which is the sperm count multiplied with volume. Over 15  million sperm per milliliter is considered normal, according to the WHO in 2010. Older definitions state 20 million. Sperm count is the focal factor of conception and is threatened by variety of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Leukocytospermia is been argued as one factor that decrease sperm count and quality. An abnormally high concentration of WBC‘s in the semen is a condition known as leukocytospermia, also referred to as leukospermia, pyospermia or pyosaemia. This research was designed to establish if a relationship do exists between seminal sperm count and leukocytospermia.  One hundred (100) apparently healthy men visiting the Microbiology Department  of the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa for semen analysis from August 2012- March 2013 constituted the study population. The study population was divided into two groups; non-leukocytospermic subjects and leukocytospermic.The sperm count was assessed by improved bright-light Neubauer haemocytometer.  The research carried out correlating the relationship between sperm count and leukocytospermia was statistically significant (P<0.05). Leukocytospermic samples tend to have decreases sperm count as compared to non leukocytospermic samples. Also cases of aspermia were more rampant in leukocytospermic subjects than non-leukocytospermic subjects. Leukocytospermia is a signal of inflammation and infection of the male reproduction apparatus and hence Medical Practitioners should matter of urgency employ the appropriate treatment regime to eliminate the causative agent.

Key words: Leukocytospermia,  non-leukocytospermic , sperm count, seminal fluid, MAGI : Male accessory sex gland infection,spermatozoa.