Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Infection and Male Infertility

  • Chapter
Book cover Office Andrology

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

  • 633 Accesses

Abstract

A 32-yr-old couple that had no problems conceiving their first child 3 yr ago had now been trying to conceive again for over 2 yr. The female work-up was normal and included a normal hysterosalpingogram, biphasic basal body temperature charts with adequate luteal phases, and ovulatory mid-luteal progesterone levels. The husband’s basic semen analysis was normal with the exception of decreased progressive motility and leukocytospermia. He had no signs or symptoms of acute genitourinary tract infection. A diagnosis of subclinical chronic prostatitis was made, and he was prescribed doxycycline for 1 mo and told to frequently ejaculate during the treatment interval. On the second menstrual cycle after the antibiotic treatment, the couple conceived and had an uneventful pregnancy and delivery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Tomlinson MJ, White A, Barratt CL, et al. The removal of morphologically abnormal sperm forms by phagocytes: a positive role for seminal leukocytes. Hum Reprod 1992;7:517–522.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Comhaire F, Verschraegen G, Vermeulen L. Diagnosis of accessory gland infection and its possible role in male infertility. Int J Androl 1980;3:32–45.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Barratt CL, Robinson A, Spenser RC, et al. Seminal peroxidase positive cells are not an adequate indicator of asymptomatic urethral genital infection. Int J Androl 1990;13:361–368.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wolff H, Politch JA, Martinez A, et al. Leukocytospermia is associated with poor semen quality. Fertil Steril 1990;53:528–536.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Sigman M, Lopes L. The correlation between round cells and white blood cells in the semen. J Urol 1993; 149:1338–1340.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hill JA, Haimovici F, Politch JA, Anderson DJ. Effects of soluble products of activated lymphocytes and macrophages (lymphokines and monokines) on human sperm motion parameters. Fertil Steril 1987;47:460–465.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Krieger JN, McGonagle IA. Diagnostic considerations and interpretation of microbiological findings for evaluation of chronic prostatitis. J Clin Microbiol 1989;27:2240–2244.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Wright ET, Chmiel JS, Grayhack JT, Schaeffer AJ. Prostatic fluid inflammation in prostatitis. J Urol 1994;152:2300–2303.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Keriger JN, Egan KJ. Comprehensive evaluation and treatment of 75 men referred to chronic prostatitis clinic. Urology 1991;38:11–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. de la Rosette JJ, Hubregtse MR, Meuleman HJ, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of 409 patients with prostatitis syndromes. Urology 1993;41:301–307.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Toth A, Lesser ML. Asymptomatic bacteriospermia in fertile and in fertile men Fertil Steril 1981; 36:85–91.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Aitken RJ, West K, Buckingham D. Leukocyte infiltration into human ejaculate and its association with semen quality, oxidative stress, and sperm function. J Androl 1994;15:343–352.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Purvis K, Christiansen E. Infection in the male reproductive tract. Impact, diagnosis and treatment in relation to male infertility. Int J Androl 1993;16:1–13.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Naessens A, Foulon W, Debrucker P, et al. Recovery of microorganisms in semen and the relationship to semen evaluation. Fertil Steril 1986;452:101–105.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Makler A, Urbach Y, Lefler E, Merzbach D. Factors affecting sperm motility. Sperm viability under the influence of bacterial growth in human ejaculates. Fertil Steril 1981;35:666–670.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. World Health Organization. WHO Laboratory Manual for the Examination of Human Semen and Sperm-Cervical Mucus Interaction. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Couture M, Ulstein M, Leonard J, Paulsen JA. Improved staining method for differentiating immature germ cells from white blood cells in human seminal fluid. Andrologia 1976;8:61–66.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Endtz AW. A rapid staining method for differentiating granulocytes from “germinal cells” in Papanicolaou stained semen. Acta Cytol 1974;18:2–7.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Nahoum CRD, Cardozo D. Staining for volumetric count of leukocytes in semen and prostatevescular fluid. Fertil Steril 1980;34:68,69.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Eggert-Kruse W, Bellmann A, Rohr G, et al. Differentiation of round cells by means of monoclonal antibodies and relationship with male infertility. Fertil Steril 1992;58:1046–1055.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Wolff H, Anderson DJ. Immunohistologic chacterization and quantitation of leukocyte subpopulations in human semen. Fertil Steril 1988;49:497–504.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Wolff H, Panhans A, Zebhauser M, Meurer M. Comparison of three methods to detect white blood cells in semen: leukocyte esterase dipstick test, granulocyte elastase enzymeimmunoassy and peroxidase cytochemistry. Fertil Steril 1992;58:1260–1262.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Politch JA, Wolff H, Hill JA, Anderson DJ. Comparison of methods to enumerate white blood cells in semen. Fertil Steril 1993;60:372–375.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Hillier SL, Rabe LK, Muller CH, et al. Relationship of bacteriologic characteristics to semen indices in men attending an infertility clinic. Obstet Gynecol 1990;75:800–804.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Brunner H, Weidner W, Schiefer HG. Studies on the role of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in prostatitis. J Infect Dis 1983;147:807–813.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Close CE, Roberts PL Berger RE. Cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana are related to pyospermia in infertile men. J Urol 1990;144:900–903.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Berger RE, Karp LE, Williamson RA, et al. The relationship of pyospermia and seminal fluid bacteriology to sperm function as reflected in the sperm penetration assay. Fertil Steril 1982;37:557–564.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Berger RE, Smith WD, Critchlow CW, et al. Improvement in the sperm penetration (hamster ova) assay (SPA) results after doxycycline treatment of infertile men. J Androl 1983;4:126–130.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Maruyama DK, Hale RW, Rogers BJ. Effects of white blood cells on the in vitro penetration of zona-free hamster eggs by human spermatozoa. J Androl 1985;6:127–135.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Talbert LM, Hammond MG, Halme J, et al. Semen parameters and fertilization of human oocytes in-vitro: a multivariable analysis. Fertil Steril 1987;48:270–277.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. De Geyter C, De Geyter M, Behre HM, et al. Peroxidase-positive round cells and microorganisms in human semen together with antibiotic treatment adversely influence the outcome of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Int J Androl 1994;17:127–134.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Tomlinson MJ, Barratt CLR, Cooke ID. Prospective study of leukocytes and leukocyte subpopulations in semen suggests they are not a cause of male infertility. Fertil Steril 1993;60:1069–1075.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Smith DC, Barratt CLR, Williams MA. The characterization of non-sperm cells in the ejaculates of fertile men using transmission electron microscopy. Andrologia 1989;21:319–333.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Phadke AM, Phadke GM. Occurrence of macrophage cells in the semen and in the epididymis in cases of male infertility. J Reprod Fertil 1961;2:400–403.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Weiss SJ. Tissue destruction by neutrophils. N Engl J Med 1989;320:365–376

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Aitken RJ, Clarkson JS, Fishel S. Generation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation and human sperm function. Biol Reprod 1989;40:183–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Alvarez JG, Touchstone JC, Blasco L, Storey BT. Spontaneous lipid peroxidation and production of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide in human spermatozoa. Superoxide dismutase as major enzyme protectant against oxygen toxicity. J Androl 1987;8:338–348.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Krausz C, Mills C, Rogers S, et al. Stimulation of oxidant generation by human suspensions using phorbol esters and formyl peptides: relationships with motility and fertilization in vitro. Fertil Steril 1994;62: 599–605.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Schopf RE, Schramm P, Benes P, Morsches B. Seminal plasma induced suppression of the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes. Andrologia 1984;16:124–128.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Kovalski NN, de Lamirande E, Gagnon C. Reactive oxygen species generated by human neutrophils inhibit sperm motility: protective effect of seminal plasma scavengers. Fertil Steril 1992;58:809–816.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Comhaire F, Bosmans E, Omblet W, et al. Cytokines in semen of normal men and of patients with andrological diseases. Am J Reprod Immunol 1994;31:99–1103.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Hill JA, Cohen J, Anderson DJ. The effect of lymphokines and monokines on sperm fertilizing ability in the zona-free hamster egg penetration test. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1989;160:1154–1159.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Eisermann J, Register KB, Strickler RC, Collins JL. The effect of tumor necrosis factor on human sperm motility in vitro. J Androl 1989;10:270–274.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Paschke R, Schulze-Bertelsbeck D, Bahrs S, et al. Seminal sperm antibodies exhibit an unstable spontaneous course and an increased incidence of leukocytospermia. Int J Androl 1994;17:135–139.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Kortebani G, Gonzales GF, Barrera C, Mazzolli AB. Leukocyte populations in semen and male accessory gland function: relationship with antisperm antibodies and seminal quality. Andrologia 1992;24:197–204.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Fedder J, Askjaer SA, Hjort T. Nonspermatozoal cells in semen: relationship to other semen parameters and fertility status of the couple. Arch Androl 1993;31:95–103.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Alvarez JG, Sharma RK, Ollero M, et al. Increased DNA damage in sperm from leukocytospermic semen samples as determined by the sperm chromatin assay. Fertil Steril 2002; 78:319–329.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Thomas JF, Fishel SB, Hall JA, et al. Increased polymorphonuclear granulocytes in seminal plasma in relation to sperm morphology. Hum Reprod 1997;12:2418–2421.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Tjioe DY, Steinberger E. Spermiophages in human testes. Fertil Steril 1967;18:807–811.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Hermo L, Lalli M. Monocytes and mast cells in the limiting membrane of human seminiferous tubules. Biol Reprod 1978;19:92–100.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  51. Pollanen P, Cooper TG. Immunology of the testicular excurrent ducts. J Reprod Immunol 1994;26: 167–216.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  52. Yeung CH, Nashan D, Sorg C, et al. Basal cells of the human epididymis-antigenic and ultrastructural similarities to tissue fixed macrophages. Biol Reprod 1994 50:917–926.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  53. Ritchie AWS, Hargreave TB, James K, Chisholm GD. Intraepithelial lymphocytes in the normal epididymis: a mechanism for tolerance to sperm-autoantigens. Br J Urol 1984;56:79–84.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Phadke AM. Spermiophage cells in man. Fertil Steril 1975;26:760–764.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  55. Olsen GP, Sheilds JW. Seminal lymphocytes, plasma and AIDS. Nature 1984;309:116,117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. El-Demiry MIM, Hargreave TB, Busutti A, et al. Lymphocyte sub-populations in the male genital tract. Br J Urol 1985;57:769–774.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. McClinton S, Eremin O, Miller ID. Inflammatory infiltrate in prostatic hyperplasia evidence of a host response to intraprostatic spermatozoa? Br J Urol 1990;65:606–610.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Maroni MS, Symon DNK, Wilkinson PC. Chemotaxis of neutrophil leukocytes towards spermatozoa and seminal fluid. J Reprod Fertil 1972;28:359–368.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  59. Pandya IJ, Cohen J. The leukocyte reaction of the human uterine cervix to spermatozoa. Fertil Steril 1985;43:417–421.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Wang AW, Politch J, Anderson DJ. Leukocytospermia in male infertility patients in China. Andrologia 1994;26:167–172.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Kung AWC, Ho PC, Wang C. Seminal leukocytes subpopulations and sperm function in fertile and infertile Chinese men. Int J Androl 1993;16:189–194.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  62. Barratt CLR, Bolton AE, Cooke ID. Functional significance of white blood cells in the male and female reproductive tract. Hum Reprod 1990;5:433–451.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Branigan EF, Muller CH. Efficacy of treatment and recurrence rate of leukocytospermia in infertile men with prostatitis. Fertil Steril 1994;62:580–584.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  64. Ng FL, Liu DY, Baker HWG. Comparison of Percoll, mini-Percoll, swim-up methods for sperm preparation from abnormal sperm. Hum Reprod 1992;7:261–266.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  65. Baker HWG, Brindle J, Irvine DS, Aitken RJ. Protective effect of antioxidants on the impairment of sperm motility by activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Fertil Steril 1996;65:411–419.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bellingham IVF and Infertility Center, Bellingham, WA

    Emmett F. Branigan MD

Authors
  1. Emmett F. Branigan MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University, University Fertility Consultants, Portland, OR

    Phillip E. Patton MD  & David E. Battaglia PhD  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2005 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Branigan, E.F. (2005). Infection and Male Infertility. In: Patton, P.E., Battaglia, D.E. (eds) Office Andrology. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-876-2_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-876-2_13

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-318-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-876-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation