Dataset related to article "Male Infertility: Is Prevention the Missing Piece?"

Purpose:To evaluate the current use of preventive andrological care in a large cohort of men attending a fertility centre, identify the prevalence and predictors of semen abnormalities at presentation, and explore the implications for early male reproductive health screening. Materials and Methods:This single-centre cross-sectional study included 930 consecutive men undergoing semen analysis at a tertiary fertility centre between November 2023 and January 2024. Participants were classified according to the indication for semen analysis (preventive screening, clinical follow-up, or fertility assessment), previous semen analysis, and previous andrological evaluation. Clinical, lifestyle, and reproductive data were collected through structured interviews. Semen parameters were assessed according to the WHO 2021 criteria, and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of seminal abnormalities. Results:Fertility assessment was the main indication for semen analysis (88.7%), whereas only 3.4% of participants underwent preventive screening. Overall, 32.2% were undergoing their first semen analysis, and among them, 23.7% had never received a previous andrological evaluation. The median age at first assessment was approximately 37 years. Seminal abnormalities were frequently identified at first evaluation, particularly reduced progressive motility, abnormal morphology, and reduced sperm concentration. In multivariable analyses, varicocele emerged as the strongest and most consistent independent predictor of impaired semen quality across all major semen parameters. Higher body mass index and older age showed parameter-specific associations, whereas smoking and alcohol consumption were not independently associated with seminal impairment. Conclusions:Preventive andrological assessment remains markedly underutilized, with most men seeking evaluation only when fertility becomes a concern. These findings support the implementation of structured early andrological screening programs to facilitate timely diagnosis of treatable conditions, preserve reproductive potential, and promote male health through earlier detection of systemic risk factors reflected by semen quality.