Is leukocytospermia clinically relevant?
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between seminal leukocytes and abnormal semen parameters in a large population of infertility patients.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
Center for Reproductive Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.


METHODS
One thousand seven hundred ten male partners in infertile couples attending the Center for Reproductive Medicine.


METHODS
Seminal leukocyte concentrations, sperm count, motility and morphology, and the prevalence of samples with < 10 x 10(6) motile sperm per ejaculate (a parameter defined by IVF as the most clinically significant predictor of male infertility).


RESULTS
There was a strong relationship between increasing leukocyte concentrations in semen and abnormal semen parameters. Statistically significant differences in sperm concentrations and morphology were observed at leukocytospermia thresholds of 5 x 10(5) and 2 x 10(6) granulocytes/mL, respectively. The percentage of suboptimal semen specimens as defined by IVF criteria (< 10(7) total motile sperm per ejaculate) significantly increased with increasing seminal granulocyte concentrations. A twofold increased prevalence in such suboptimal semen specimens was observed at the leukocytospermia threshold of 2 x 10(6) granulocytes/mL.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a relationship between increasing seminal granulocyte concentrations and poor semen parameters. At seminal granulocyte concentrations > 2 x 10(6)/mL, semen parameter abnormalities were observed that were both statistically and clinically significant.
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
E H
EH
Yanushpolsky
J A
JA
Politch
J A
JA
Hill
D J
DJ
Anderson
D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000473:pathology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*