Abstract
Objective
To evaluate whether sexual orientation affects sperm parameters.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study using existing data from an academic reproductive
centre for the period of April 01, 2009, to March 31, 2021. We compared the results
of sperm analysis from male patients who were in same-sex relationships (study group)
with those of men in heterosexual relationships who did not have male-factor infertility
(control group). A subsequently comparison of both groups with World Health Organization
(WHO) reference values was also performed.
Results
Thirty-nine samples from the study group were compared with 494 samples from the control
group. All parameters, apart from morphology, were comparable. The median sperm concentrations
were 64 (interquartile range [IQR] 32.1–102.9) million/mL and 50.1 (IQR 25.3–92.5)
million/mL in the study and control groups, respectively (P = 0.252), whereas the median percentage of progressive motile sperm was 50% (IQR
34–65) in the study group and 52% (IQR 33–65) in the control group (P = 0.198). The median percentage of morphologically normal sperm was higher in the
control group than in the study group (6% vs. 5%; P = 0.019). However, no significant difference was found when sperm morphology was
dichotomized with the cut-off of ≥4% (74.1% and 74.4%, respectively; P = 0.966). When compared with the WHO reference group, the percentage of men with
total motile sperm counts ≥10 million and the percentage of men with normal morphology
were significantly lower in both groups.
Conclusion
Our study suggests that there is no relationship between sexual orientation and sperm
parameters.
Résumé
Objectif
Évaluer si l’orientation sexuelle a une incidence sur les paramètres spermatiques.
Méthodologie
Il s’agit d’une étude transversale réalisée à partir des données existantes d’un centre
de procréation universitaire pour la période du 1er avril 2009 au 31 mars 2021. Nous avons comparé les résultats de spermogramme d’hommes
en relation homosexuelle (groupe à l’étude) avec ceux d’hommes en relation hétérosexuelle
sans facteur d’infertilité masculine (groupe témoin). Une comparaison subséquente
des deux groupes a également été effectuée au moyen des valeurs de référence de l’Organisation
mondiale de la Santé (OMS).
Résultats
Au total, 39 échantillons du groupe à l’étude ont été comparés aux 494 échantillons
du groupe témoin. Tous les paramètres, à l’exception de la morphologie, étaient comparables.
La concentration spermatique médiane était de 64 millions/ml (intervalle interquartile
[IIQ] : 32,1–102,9) et de 50,1 millions/ml (IIQ : 25,3–92,5) dans le groupe à l’étude
et le groupe témoin, respectivement (p = 0,252); tandis que le pourcentage médian de spermatozoïdes à mobilité progressive
était de 50 % (IIQ : 34–65) dans le groupe à l’étude et de 52 % (IIQ : 33–65) dans
le groupe témoin (p = 0,198). Le pourcentage médian de spermatozoïdes morphologiquement normaux était
plus élevé dans le groupe témoin que dans le groupe à l’étude (6 % p/r à 5 %; p = 0,019). Toutefois, aucune différence significative n’a été observée lorsque la
morphologie des spermatozoïdes a été dichotomisée en utilisant une limite de ≥ 4 %
(74,1 % et 74,4 %, respectivement; p = 0,966). Le pourcentage d’hommes ayant une numération totale de spermatozoïdes mobiles
de ≥ 10 millions et le pourcentage d’hommes ayant une morphologie spermatique normale
étaient significativement plus faibles dans les deux groupes comparativement au groupe
de référence de l’OMS.
Conclusion
Notre étude indique qu’il n’y a pas de relation entre l’orientation sexuelle et les
paramètres spermatiques.
Keywords
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References
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 20, 2022
Accepted:
May 2,
2022
Received:
March 3,
2022
Footnotes
Disclosures: Togas Tulandi is editor-in-chief of the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada.
All authors have indicated they meet the journal’s requirements for authorship.
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada/La Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
