Do Ureaplasma urealyticum infections in the genital tract affect semen quality?
To investigate the relationship between Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection and semen quality.


METHODS
From 2001 to 2003, 346 eligible patients aged 20-45 years were invited from two hospitals in Shanghai, China, to participate in an investigation which included questionnaires about general and reproductive health, an external genital tract examination, UU culture and semen analysis. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine whether UU had a significant effect on semen quality after adjustment for confounding factors.


RESULTS
Findings suggested that UU infection was associated with higher semen viscosity and lower semen pH value. Sperm concentration was lower in UU positive subjects than that in UU negative subjects (54.04 X 10(6)/mL vs.70.58 X 10(6)/mL). However, UU did not significantly affect other semen quality indexes.


CONCLUSIONS
UU infection of the male genital tract could negatively influence semen quality.
Wang
Yan
Y
Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Liang
Cui-Ling
CL
Wu
Jun-Qing
JQ
Xu
Chen
C
Qin
Shi-Xiao
SX
Gao
Er-Sheng
ES
D000328:Adult; D003020:Clothing; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010808:Physical Examination; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D016869:Ureaplasma Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016990:Ureaplasma urealyticum