Trace Elements in Serum and Seminal Plasma and Their Relationship to Infertility in Iraqi Males

Abstract

Background: Environmental chemicals are thought to
adversely affect human reproductive function.
Objective : To estimate the concentration of cadmium(Cd)
, lead ( Pb ) and Zinc ( Zn ) in serum and seminal plasma
among infertile men .
Methods: A sample of 70 infertile men was investigated.
The relationship of trace elements concentration in serum and
seminal plasma was studied in relation to sperm density,
motility and sperm count.
Results: Except for Zinc the concentration of (Pb) and (Cd)
were generally higher in serum than in seminal plasma. The
mean concentration of (Zn) in seminal plasma was more than
25 times higher than in serum There were no statistical
significant differences observed in the serum and seminal
plasma levels of trace elements among the normospermic ,
oligospermic and azoospermic.
Conclusion: It seems that no significant relationship
between these trace elements and the clinical classification of
the infertile men was noted. Without considering
environmental conditions of life and work, way of nutrition
smoking and other possible factors, this study does not
present great value.