Sperm quality and pregnancy rate after COX-2 inhibitor therapy of infertile males with abacterial leukocytospermia.
BACKGROUND
Leukocytes are a frequent finding in seminal plasma of infertile males with abacterial inflammation. We evaluated the effects of treatment with rofecoxib, a cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor, on sperm quality and pregnancy rate after intrauterine insemination (IUI) or monitored intercourse.


METHODS
We selected 47 infertile patients referred to our sterility centre for semen analysis. Sperm evaluation was performed by light microscopy with Papanicolau and eosin staining, before and 1 month after therapy. Swim-up selection was carried out in two steps. Starting 6-8 weeks after the end of therapy, couples underwent different procedures of assisted fertilization according to their semen parameters.


RESULTS
Semen analysis 30 days after the end of therapy showed a significant reduction in leukocyte concentrations with respect to baseline, an improvement of sperm motility and morphology, particularly the presence and shape of the acrosomal complex and tail structure. After monitored intercourse and IUI, pregnancy rate was 15.8 and 11.3%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that a decrease in leukocytospermia after rofecoxib therapy was associated with recovery of all seminal characteristics in basal and swim-up selected samples. This general improvement could justify the positive outcome of ART after anti-inflammatory therapy.
Gambera
Laura
L
Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Center for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Couple Sterility, Siene, Italy.
Serafini
Francesca
F
Morgante
Giuseppe
G
Focarelli
Riccardo
R
De Leo
Vincenzo
V
Piomboni
Paola
P
D000328:Adult; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000628:therapy*; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012661:Semen / Q000378:metabolism; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*; D013450:Sulfones / Q000494:pharmacology
D007783:Lactones; D013450:Sulfones; C116926:rofecoxib; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2