Volume 52, Issue 7 e13637
ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Colonisation of the male reproductive tract in asymptomatic infertile men: Effects on semen quality

Ernesto Veiga

Corresponding Author

Ernesto Veiga

Central Laboratory/Assisted Human Reproduction Unit, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), SERGAS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Correspondence

Ernesto Veiga, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela. Unidad de Reproducción Humana Asistida (URHA). Planta 0. Travesia da Choupana s/n, 15706 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain.

Email: ernesto.veiga.alvarez@sergas.es

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Mercedes Treviño

Mercedes Treviño

Microbiology Service, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), SERGAS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

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Ana B. Romay

Ana B. Romay

Obstetrics Service/Assisted Human Reproduction Unit, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), SERGAS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

HM Fertility Center, A Coruña, Spain

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Daniel Navarro

Daniel Navarro

Microbiology Service, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), SERGAS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

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Rocío Trastoy

Rocío Trastoy

Microbiology Service, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), SERGAS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

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Manuel Macía

Manuel Macía

Obstetrics Service/Assisted Human Reproduction Unit, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), SERGAS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

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First published: 26 May 2020
Citations: 4

Funding information

This work was carried out with part of the data of the doctoral thesis of E.V. of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. No funds were required for the tests, included in the infertility study of our Hospital. This study was funded by University Clinical Hospital of Santiago de Compostela.

Abstract

The objective was to explore presence/detection of microorganisms in the male reproductive tract (PMMRT) in asymptomatic patients undergoing infertility treatment and their effects on semen quality in our region. This study enrolled 205 men (mean age, 35.9 years) in a single-centre, tertiary university hospital from December 2015 to December 2016. We used the modified Meares–Stamey test, real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) and the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Sympton Index (NHI-CPSI) questionnaire to address this issue. No patient met the prostatitis criteria by the modified Meares–Stamey 4-sample test, 33 (16.1%) were positive for rt-PCR in the first-voided urine for any of the Mycoplasma (Ureaplasma urealyticum/parvum, Mycoplasma hominis/genitalium) and C. trachomatis was detected in two cases (1%), and three for rt-PCR in semen for HPV high-risk genotypes non-16/18 (1.5%). Significant statistical differences were reported among patients with and without PMMRT in terms of lower rate of progressive spermatozoa (PR) (p < .034), total motile sperm count (p < .028), normal morphologic forms, especially in the sperm head (p < .001) and highest viscosity (p < .012). It was concluded that PMMRT, specially Mycoplasmas, in asymptomatic infertility men, affects semen quality. The NIH-CPSI questionnaire was not a valid initial screening to subsequently evaluate the presence of prostatitis/PMMRT.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors report no financial or other conflict of interest relevant to this study.

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