Comparison of Sperm Parameters in Patients with Infertility Induced by Genital Infection versus Varicocele

Abstract

Background: Male infertility is a common and complex problem and, despite much research in this field, the major cause of infertility unfortunately remains unknown. Genital infection and varicocele are important causes of infertility. Aims: To compare the influence of genital infection and varicocele individually on male infertility based on semen analysis. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The study included 120 infertile patients divided into two groups according to the presence of genital infection or varicocele. The first group included 60 examinees with proven genital infection, but without varicocele formation. The second included 60 patients with varicocele, regardless of the varicocele grade, but without genital infection. The fertile parameters were compared and an assessment was performed on the impact on quality of spermatogenesis due to infection and varicocele. Results: There is a statistically significant difference regarding abnormal forms of spermatozoids (45.94±9.79 vs. 25.27±6.54) and progressive motility (8.15±1.24 vs. 24.95±7.2), between two groups of patients. However, acidity of ejaculates, minimum sperm concentration, total spermatozoid motility and ejaculate volume showed no statistically significant difference. Conclusion:The study showed a stronger negative influence of genital infection on fertile parameters over varicocele. The significance of our study is the lack of contemporary researches comparing varicocele and genital infection influence on male infertility individually. Keywords: Genital infections, infertility, semen analysis, varicocele Infertility is related to the disability of a sexually active, couple not using contraception to become pregnant within one year. Male infertility is a complex, contemporary problem, which affects approximately every 20 th person. The etiology of infertility usually remains unknown, despite detailed and comprehensive research in this field (1-3).Genital infection and varicocele are the main causes of male infertility worldwide. Genital infection can impair the quality of spermatozoa and decrease the function of male accessory glands. Nevertheless, it is a correctable cause of male infertility (4). Contemporary studies claim that varicocele can be associated with significant and progressive testicular damage if started during adolescence, which can permanently decrease fertility. Nevertheless, only a small percentage of men with varicocele are infertile, although almost 30% of men with abnormal semen parameters have clinical varicocele (5,6). Initially, the diagnosis of infertility in males is established through the analysis of semen (7).Since there is no contemporary research with regards to the comparison between genital infection and varicocele influence on male infertility, the aim of our research is to compare genital infection and varicocele influence on male infertility, separately, based on semen analysis.

294 A correlation between selenium and carnitine levels with hyposmotic swelling test for sperm membrane in low-grade varicocele patients

“…The diagnostic of varicocele was confirmed by the color Doppler flow imaging system and 7.5 MHz linear-array transducer (Hewlett-Packard-Sonos 1000; Providian Medical Equipment LLC , Willovick, OH , USA) 8 . The currently valid varicocelce classification, which we used in our study, was taken from the European Association of Urology (EAU) guidelines on Male Infertility 9 .…”

Preoperative duplex ultrasound parameters predicting male fertility after successful varicocelectomy

“…Long duration persistent varicocele is associated with adverse effects on sperm count, sperm motility and morphology, decrease testicular size, abnormal testosterone hormone level and decrease pregnancy rates. 3 - 5 Scrotal physical examination is the preferred method for the diagnosis of varicocele. The Dubin grading system classifies the varicocele into 3 grades.…”

Impact of asymptomatic urogenital tract infections on ejaculate parameters in infertile men with varicocele

“…В настоящей работе было отмече-но, что у пациентов с бесплодием и варикоцеле, в УГТ которых выявлены бактерии и вирусы, показатели спер-мы статистически значимо снижены по сравнению с больными с аналогичным диагнозом, но без инфек-ционных агентов. Сравнительный анализ основных показателей спермограмм при варикоцеле без инфек-ций и с бактериальной генитальной инфекцией без ва-рикоцеле показал, что оба состояния ухудшают каче-ство спермы [1]. Установлено, что присутствие бактерий в сперме при бессимптомной инфекции ока-зывает негативное действие на оплодотворение как пу-тем прямого действия на гаметы, так и опосредованно, через иммунные механизмы [19].…”

“…Приблизительно в 50 % случаев причиной бесплодия является мужской фактор [1]. Несмотря на многочисленные исследования, этиология мужского бесплодия часто остается неизвестной [2][3][4].…”