A Retrospective Comparative Analysis of Sperm Count and Semen Parameters among White-Collar and Blue-Collar Workers: Influence of Occupational and Lifestyle Factors.

OBJECTIVE: To compare semen quality characteristics and associated occupational and lifestyle characteristics in white- and blue-collar workers. METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out on 2,555 individuals (1,383 white-collar and 1,172 blue-collar) aged 20 to 50 years. Parameters of semen quality were measured based on WHO (2010) guidelines. RESULTS: Smoking, drinking alcohol, heat, and chemical exposure were more frequent among blue-collar workers, while stress and sedentary lifestyle prevailed among white-collar workers. There was a difference in the semen quality parameters by categories of abnormalities. Progressive motility and morphology proved their significant discriminating power concerning the high level of stress in white-collar workers, with area under the curve of 0.924 and 0.878, respectively. CONCLUSION: Occupational and lifestyle characteristics were linked with differences in semen quality characteristics.