OBSERVATIONS IN INFERTILE AFRICAN MALES AT AN ANDROLOGY CLINIC IN SOUTH-AFRICA

The major cause of infertility among black Africans is traditionally a ttributed to a female factor and few reports are available on the male factor. This study analyzed the clinical and seminal data obtained fr om a population of 1726 suspected infertile African men evaluated from July 1985 to June 1991. The possible cause of infertility was judged on the results of first semen analysis. Of these men, 49% were seconda rily infertile and 36% had previously received treatment for a urethra l discharge. Varicocoeles were present in 183 cases (11%) and 11% had serological evidence of previous exposure to syphilis. Azoospermia was present in 152 patients (9%), 5% had polizoospermia, 45% had hyposper mia (<2 mL) and 9% (>6 mL) had hyperspermia. In 70% of patients a poss ible contributing male factor for infertility was found. It would appe ar that the male factor contributed significantly to infertility, and evaluation of the black African male can therefore be regarded as a re warding venture.