Objective-To determine the prevalence of pathogens that cause sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in semen from asymptomatic male infertility patients with and without leukocytospermia (LCS), and associations between STIs, inflammatory markers and other semen variables.Design-Retrospective, controlled study. Results-STI DNA was detected in 45/241 (18.7%) of the samples (CMV 8.7%, HPV 4.5%, HHV-6 3.7%, HSV 3.7%, CT 2.5%, EBV 0.4%, and HBV 0%), with no difference in prevalence between LCS and non-LCS groups. STI DNA in semen was associated with a decrease in sperm concentration, motile sperm concentration, total sperm count and neutral α-glucosidase concentration, whereas LCS was associated with a decrease in total sperm count, % normal forms and fructose concentration.
Setting-CenterReprint requests: Deborah J. Anderson, Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine, 670 Albany Street, Suite 516, Boston, MA 02118, (FAX: 617-414-8481; e-mail: E-mail: deborah.anderson@bmc.org). Capsule: Sexually transmissible pathogens were detected in 19% of semen samples from infertility patients seeking routine semen analyses; their presence was not associated with leukocytospermia, but was associated with reduced semen quality.Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. Conclusion(s)-STI pathogen DNA was detected in semen from a high percentage of asymptomatic male infertility patients and was associated with poor semen quality. Efforts to diagnose and treat subclinical genital tract infections should be intensified.
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