HIGH AND UNCHANGED SPERM COUNTS OF FINNISH MEN

Several recent reports have suggested that the sperm counts of normal men are declining in most countries. In this study the sperm counts of Finnish men, and their possible changes during the past 28 years, wer e investigated. The material consisted of semen samples from 238 norma l healthy men of unknown fertility and 5481 men from infertile couples . The means (medians) of semen volume, sperm density and total sperm c ount in normal men were 3.3 (3.0) ml, 133.9 (94.0) x 10(6)/ml and 396. 6 (309.0) x 10(6), respectively. These parameters and the relative fre quency distribution of the sperm density were similar to those reporte d elsewhere in the 1940s. Multiple Linear regression analysis revealed a significant decrease in semen volume, whereas sperm density and tot al sperm count of infertile men had not changed significantly during t he past 28 years. In addition, no change in sperm counts was associate d with the year of men's birth.