The effect of month-long daily fasting on semen parameters: A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Ramadan month-long daily fasting affects semen analysis parameters.

METHODS: this retrospective cohort study was conducted in tertiary academic medical center. Medical records of 97 Muslim patients who were admitted to the IVF unit from May 2011-May 2021 were reviewed. Only men who provided at least one semen sample during Ramadan period (Ramadan month +70 days after) and one sample not during Ramadan were included. Semen characteristics of each patient were independently compared to himself.

RESULTS: The post-gradient semen analysis indicated significantly lower progressive sperm motility (mean 30.01±20.46 vs. 38.12±25.13 (p<0.001). The decrease in the progressive moility remained significant among patients with non-male factor indications (p<0.001). In the non-male factor indication group, the difference in the progressive moility of the post-gradient semen analysis between the 2 samples was not statistically significant (p=0.4). There were no significant differences between semen parameters before centrifuging. The incidence of asthenospermia (progressive sperm motility <32%) as an absolute parameter was higher after centrifuging the semen sample during the Ramadan period (p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS: Semen samples collected during Ramadan period was associated with lower progressive moility and reduced semen volume compared to semen samples from the same men outside of the Ramadan period. A possible effect of these altered semen parameters on fertility should be investigated further.