The association of socioeconomic status with semen parameters in a cohort of men in the United States

Abstract

Background

Socioeconomic differences are present within the population of men who experience infertility and seek treatment.

Objective

To study the association of socioeconomic status with semen parameters in a group of men using mail-in semen analyses.

Materials and methods

The records of 11,134 men that used mail-in semen analyses from a fertility company were identified. Their demographic information, semen parameters, and ZIP codes were collected. Area deprivation index (ADI) was used as a proxy for socioeconomic status and was calculated for each individual using their ZIP codes in order to measure their level of socioeconomic deprivation. A higher ADI signifies a more deprived area. The association between ADI and the semen parameters of this group was measured using linear regression analysis adjusted for age.

Results

11,134 men were included in the study with a median age of 35 years (interquartile range (IQR): 32–40) and a median ADI of 83 (IQR: 68–97). The cohort had a median sperm concentration of 31 million/mL (IQR: 14–59), median total sperm count of 123 million (IQR: 57–224), median total motile sperm of 35 million (IQR: 9–95), median total motility of 32% (IQR: 15–52), progressive motility of 22% (IQR: 9–38), and morphology percent normal of 4% (IQR: 2–7). Higher ADI, indicating lower socioeconomic status, was negatively associated with various semen parameters, including sperm concentration, total sperm count, total motile sperm, and total and progressive motility.

Discussion and conclusion

Men who live in more deprived areas are more likely to have worse semen parameters. Further research is needed to thoroughly examine the impact of socioeconomic status on male fertility. A comprehensive approach that targets upstream social, economic, and healthcare factors can possibly alleviate the negative association of socioeconomic status with fertility and semen parameters.