Is seminal pH and liquefaction time effective on motility and morphology?
Abstract
Objective
There are not enough reports about whether liquefaction time and semen pH values are related to sperm functions. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether there is a relationship between pH and liquefaction time and major semen parameters.
Material and Methods
The data were divided into groups as normal and abnormal and compared in terms of pH and liquefaction times. The samples were also grouped according to semen pH as acidic (<7.2), normal ( 7.2-8.0) and basic (>8.0) and liquefaction time as normal liquefying (≤30 min.) and slow liquefying (> 30 min.), and then were compared in terms of the normal/abnormal status of concentration, motility and morphology.
Results
Of the 600 semen samples, 400 (66.7%) were grouped as abnormal and 200 (33.3%) as normal. The median pH and liquefaction time of the abnormal group were statistically higher than the normal group (both, p <0,01). The seminal pH and liquefaction times were significantly higher in asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia and asthenoteratozoospermia groups (for all, p <0.01). The concentration, progressive motility and morphology of the basic ph (>8.0) group was significantly lower than both acidic and normal ph groups (for all, p <0.01). Unlike, there was only significant difference between the morphologies of liquefaction time groups (p=0.02).
Conclusion
The seminal pH and liquefaction time values in the abnormal and normal groups were significantly different and this difference was evident in those with asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia and asthenoteratozoospermia. To understand these relationships better, studies with proven fertile men as a control group should be performed.
Keywords
References
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