Assessment of male infertility causes in Mozambique: A case study of working class patients by IVF at Medicos associados clinica Cruz Azul laboratory Maputo

Abstract

A total of 105 semen specimens from infertile patients from different economic backgrounds collected throughout the country, were analyzed at IVF laboratory Medicos Associados Clinica Cruz Azul, Maputo between 2008 and 2010. The semen from patients were collected at the laboratory and quality assessment was carried out through microscopic observation. The objective of this study was to: (a) evaluate semen specimen’s prior IFV; (b) provide appropriate prognosis; and (c) find out alternative reproductive techniques to apply. Results revealed 17.14% with normo spermia; 36.2% with moderate oligospermia; 24.8% with severe oligospermia; 9.5% with presence of crystals consisting epithelial and germ cells within the seminal plasma specimens and 21.9% with high semen specimen viscosity (HSSV). These results indicate a significant level of infertility caused by both moderate and severe oligospermia, while the rest of the observed infertility is attributed to HSSV, followed by possible coital disorders which affected 17.14% of patients with standard semen parameters. Introduction of Intra- Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection techniques and counseling measures in the IVF laboratory are advised given their contribution in achieving both fertilization and acceptable conception rates, concurrently with observation of health care, towards keeping active and functional reproductive organs and standard semen quality..