The Effect of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in Semen on Sperm Analysis Parameters in Infertile Men

Lee, Joong Shik; Chung, Byung Ha; Seo, Ju Tae

Abstract

PURPOSE: The potential role of U. urealyticum and M. hominis in the production of genitourinary disease and the various instances of reproductive waste remains a controversial issue. The objectives of this research were to compare the semen parameters of male partners in marriages suspected of being subfertile and attempt to correlate any observed alterations in specific sperm characteristics with the presence or absence of U. urealyticum and M. hominis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Six hundred and fifty five patients were examined to determine if alterations in the specific semen parameters (counts, morphology and viability) might be associated with the presence or absence of U. urealyticum and M. hominis, using MYCOFAST(R) Evolution 2, which was also evaluated after proper antibiotics therapy.
RESULTS
345 (52.7%) and 3 (0.5%) patients were positive for U. urealyticum and M. hominis, respectively, using MYCOFAST(R) Evolution 2. The sperm counts, normal morphology and sperm viability were 90.94x10(6)/ml, 73.67% and 67.94%, and 74.84x10(6)/ml, 67.95% and 59% in the U. urealyticum negative and positive groups, respectively. Before antibiotics therapy, the sperm counts, motility and sperm viability were 49.9x10(6)/ml, 38.85%, 52.89%, which were improved to 79.23x10(6)/ml, 55.03% and 64.98% after the appropriate treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
Data indicating the sperm counts, morphology and sperm viability as semen parameters influenced by the presence of U. urealyticum have been presented. The sperm count, sperm motility and sperm viability were improved after proper antibiotics therapy. Routine screening for U. urealyticum is essential for unexplained infertile couples and for the treatment of asymptomatic men with an U. urealyticum infection.