Semen quality and waiting time to pregnancy explored using association mining

Jose Alejandro Romero Herrera, Anne Kirstine Bang, Laerke Priskorn, Jose M. G. Izarzugaza, Søren Brunak, Niels Jørgensen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)
11 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background Assessment of semen quality is a key pillar in the evaluation of men from infertile couples. Usually, semen parameters are interpreted individually because the interactions between parameters are difficult to account for.

Objectives To determine how combinations of classical semen parameters and female partner age were associated with waiting time to pregnancy (TTP).

Materials and methods Semen results of 500 fertile men, information of TTP, and partner age were used for regressions and to detect breaking points. For a modified Association Rule Mining algorithm, semen parameters were categorized as High, Medium, and Low.

Results Men = 62%) and morphologically normal spermatozoa (>= 10.5%). Furthermore, TTP = 32 years). However, high percentages of motile or normal spermatozoa could not compensate for sperm concentration

Discussion and Conclusion Using association mining, we observed that TTP was best predicted when combinations of semen parameters were accounted for. Sperm counts, motility, and morphology were all important, and no single semen parameter was inferior. Additionally, female age above 32 years had a negative impact on TTP that could not be compensated for by high semen parameters of the man.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAndrology
Volume9
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)577-587
Number of pages11
ISSN2047-2919
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Keywords

  • age
  • association mining
  • semen quality
  • time to pregnancy
  • FERTILE

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