Male infertility: epidemiological and etiological profile at Aristide Le Dantec Hospital, Senegal

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the epidemiological and etiological profiles of male infertility in the hospital setting at the Aristide Le Dantec University Hospital in Dakar.

Patients and methods: This is a retrospective, descriptive study of patients seen in consultation at the HALD urology department for couple infertility over a period of four years. The parameters studied were sociodemographic data, lifestyle, clinical data, echography and blood test results.

Results: Three hundred and fifty-seven (357) patients were included in our study, with a prevalence of 3.5%. The average age of the patients was 38, with extremes of 22 and 70. The 30–39 age group was the most represented (52.4%). Infertility was primary in 81% of cases. Monogamous patients accounted for 87.7% of the patients. The average duration of infertility was 6.1 years. Thermal and chemical exposure was reported in 24 and 12 patients, respectively. Smoking was noted in 12% of cases. Varicocele was the most common abnormality (65.5%) on clinical examination. Sperm analysis was abnormal in 73.1% of cases, with oligoasthenozoospermia being the most common abnormality (31.93%), followed by azoospermia (21.6%). Causes and/or risk factors for male infertility were found in 230 patients (70.3%), with a predominance of varicocele followed by urogenital infections.

Conclusion: The causes of male infertility are multiple and sometimes plural in the same individual, justifying a methodical clinical and paraclinical investigation to identify them and choose a therapeutic option where possible. Further investigation is necessary in view of the increase in the rate of idiopathic infertility.