Comparison between the Fertility Rate among Selected Group of Urban and Rural Sudanese Males Applying Hyaluronan Binding Assay Method

Abstract

Background: Sperm hyaluronan binding may be an indicator of which sperm are most likely to produce a viable pregnancy. For example, mature, hyaluronan-binding sperm are essentially free of cytoplasmic inclusions. This is of great value since cytoplasmic inclusions are extremely difficult to see when selecting sperm to inject into eggs in an in vitro fertilization cycle. Rationale: The data concerning fertility rate of rural and urban Sudanese males’ populations is extremely rare. Objectives: To know the fertility rate among rural in comparison to urban Sudanese males. Method: Men who are preparing to do in vitro fertilization with ICSI will be asked to collect a semen specimen in the same manner that they would for a conventional semen analysis. The semen is mixed with some media and placed on a special slide that has been coated with hyaluronan. Mature sperm will bind the hyaluronan (bound). These sperm will appear to have their heads stuck but with tails that show vigorous tail motion. Immature sperm will move freely (unbound Result: Average of HBA of urban: 76.4% (normal) Average of HBA rural: 64.25% (lower than normal). Discussion: Fertility rate among urban males was higher than that of rural males which is differ from previous studies mentioned above, that may be attributed to environmental, occupational, nutritional and social factors. Conclusion: We conclude that the fertility rate among rural participants was lower than that of urban participants. Recommendations: Further studies must be done with large sample size and more fertility assessment methods Acknowledgement: To all participants in the study for their collaboration and cooperation with the research team.