Semen alterations in HIV-1 infected men.
BACKGROUND
Couples in whom the man is infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) increasingly request assisted reproductive technology (ART) to allow safe procreation. Semen quality is critical in such situations.


METHODS
Semen characteristics were evaluated in 189 HIV-infected men requesting ART. At the time of semen analysis all men were healthy and 177 were receiving anti-retroviral therapy. Comparisons were made with HIV-seronegative men, partners of women requiring IVF because of tubal infertility, after matching for age and sexual abstinence delay.


RESULTS
The most significant semen alterations found in the HIV-infected men were reduced percentages of rapidly progressive sperm [median (range), 10% (0-30%) compared with 15% (5-30%) in the controls, P < 0.001], and increased concentrations of non-spermatic cells [3 x 10(6)/ml (0.2-16 x 10(6)/ml) compared with 1.1 x 10(6)/ml (0.1-14 x 10(6)/ml) in the controls, P < 0.001]. HIV-infected men also showed lower ejaculate volumes [2.8 ml (0.6-9.3 ml) compared with 3.6 ml (1.1-11 ml), P < 0.05] and total sperm counts [262.5 x 10(6) (0-1003 x 10(6)) compared with 310.5 x 10(6) (48.3-1679 x 10(6)), P < 0.05].


CONCLUSIONS
Semen evaluation in a large population of HIV-infected men requesting ART evidenced several alterations. Some of these anomalies might be related to anti-retroviral treatments.
Dulioust
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Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction, GREFH, Hôpital Cochin-APHP, Université Paris 5, 123 Bd de Port Royal, 75014 Paris, France. emmanuel.dulioust@cch.ap-hop-paris.fr
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Costagliola
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D
Guibert
J
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Kunstmann
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JM
Heard
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Juillard
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JC
Salmon
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Leruez-Ville
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Mandelbrot
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Rouzioux
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Sicard
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Zorn
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Jouannet
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De Almeida
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D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012661:Semen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013997:Time Factors