Age-Related changes in the quality of semen and sperm DNA among a sample of men in Iraq-Kurdistan

To evaluate the impact of advancing paternal age on conventional semen parameters and sperm DNA integrity among men in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2024 to April 2025 in private fertility centers across Erbil and Duhok.A total of 203 men aged 20-60 years were enrolled after excluding those with chronic illness, reproductive abnormalities, or heavy smoking.Semen samples were analyzed according to WHO (2010) guidelines, and 76 were assessed for DNA fragmentation index (DFI).Advancing age significantly reduced semen volume (3.24 ± 1.40 mL vs 2.07 ± 1.29 mL; p < 0.001), sperm concentration (62.21 ± 48.87 vs 31.25 ± 43.26 million/mL; p = 0.003), and total motility (60.21 ± 18.48 vs 39.67 ± 20.96%; p < 0.001).Progressive motility and morphology showed no significant differences.Sperm DNA fragmentation increased significantly with age, rising from 20.95 ± 13.81 in men