EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF MALE INFERTILITY AND ITS ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG MEN AGED 18–45 YEARS IN DISTRICT KARAK: A SEMEN ANALYSIS-BASED STUDY

Abstract

Male infertility is a significant public health concern that contributes substantially to reproductive health problems worldwide. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the pattern and risk factors of male infertility among men aged 18–45 years in District Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The study included 100 men who underwent semen analysis for infertility evaluation at different clinical laboratories between 1 October 2025 and 30 November 2025. Participants were selected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, medical history, lifestyle factors, and potential risk factors, along with semen analysis reports obtained from participating laboratories. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010, and descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to summarize the findings. Among the 100 participants, 26% were diagnosed with male infertility, while 74% had normal semen analysis findings. The highest proportion of infertility cases was observed among men aged 31–34 years. Married participants accounted for the majority of infertile cases (18 out of 26), followed by divorced individuals. Government servants showed the highest frequency of infertility, followed by students. Semen analysis revealed that 8 infertile men had reduced sperm count, whereas the remaining participants had sperm counts within the normal range. Reduced sperm motility was more common, with 17 infertile participants demonstrating low motility, while the remainder had normal motility. The findings indicate that male infertility in District Karak is more prevalent among men aged 31–34 years and is strongly associated with impaired sperm motility rather than low sperm count. These results highlight the importance of routine semen analysis, early diagnosis, awareness regarding modifiable risk factors, and targeted reproductive health interventions to improve male fertility outcomes in the study population.