Semen profiles of young men involved as bicycle taxi cyclists in Mangochi district, Malawi: A case-control study

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 × 106/mL vs. 54.95 ± 5.93 × 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.