Investigating the relationship of seminal oxidative damage with smoking and occupations in infertile men with normal semen parameters

Abstract

Aim: The study aimed to assess the level of seminal oxidative damage in normozoospermic infertile patients by evaluating 8-OHdG and also to analyze the relationship between oxidative damage in infertility and factors such as smoking, occupation and age.

Materials and Methods: Seminal plasma samples were obtained from raw semen samples from 13 normozoospermic infertile men among the patients who applied to Ondokuz Mayis University Urology Clinics for fertility evaluation and 10 normozoospermic proven fertile volunteers. Oxidative damage in seminal plasma was assessed by measuring the amount of 8-OHdG by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The data were also evaluated in terms of the smoking status and occupation stated by the patients and controls.

Results: The fertile group had more seminal oxidative damage than the infertile group (487.33±209.42 vs 283.12±102.73, p=0.013). Comparing the non-smoker men, the smoking group's total sperm count was decreased (84.94 ± 24.09 vs 115.80 ± 25.46, p=0.036). Age, semen characteristics, daily cigarette consumption, and partner age did not differ between the infertile and control groups. Additionally, no difference was found between the smoker and non-smoker groups, and also among the occupation groups in terms of oxidative damage (p>0.05). No correlation was found between age, oxidative damage, smoking and semen parameters (p>0.05).

Conclusion: The findings of this study could indicate that the level of seminal oxidative damage alone cannot be effective in infertile men. Also, as smoking or occupation, more factors should be considered for evaluating oxidative damage in infertile men.