Background: Semen analysis is one of the parameters used to predict male fertility. Semen can be altered by environmental pollutants; therefore it could be used as a biological marker of exposure in contaminated areas.
Aim: To analyze the spermogram values in a sample of healthy young males, residing in Arica, Chile.
Material and methods: One hundred and two healthy university students volunteers aged 18 to 30 years answered a questionnaire about fertility, habits and andrologic diseases and provided a semen sample. Within three hours after ejaculation, semen volume, pH, sperm concentration, motility and morphology were analyzed.
Results: Six percent of volunteers had offspring, 1% declared to be infertile, 32% smoked and 78% consumed alcohol. Semen pH was 7.6 ± 0.5, volume, 2.9 ± 1.6 ml, sperm concentration, 62.8 ± 62.3 x 10(6)/ml, normal morphology, 15.0 ± 7.9%, overall motility, 42.2 ± 23.2 % and grade A motility, 19.2 ± 18.6%. The percentage of subjects that had normal semen values was 82% for total sperm count, 76% for sperm concentration, 72% for volume, 64% for vitality, 63% for pH, 57% for morphology, 38% for overall motility and 26% for grade A motility.
Conclusions: This sample of healthy young males had a normal sperm count in comparison with international reports. However it is necessary to characterize the spermogram in uncontaminated areas of Chile to ensure that our results are within the expected values for the country.