Spontaneous variation of leukocytospermia in asymptomatic infertile males.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the spontaneous variation of leukocytospermia (>1 million/mL) in semen samples from infertile men.


METHODS
Prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Andrologic clinic at university hospital.


METHODS
Ninety-nine men evaluating for infertility causes.


METHODS
Two semen analyses according the World Health Organization criteria combined with urologic investigation without any treatment.


METHODS
Spontaneous (downward/upward) variation in leukocyte count, sperm concentration, total motility, and morphology between the two semen samples.


RESULTS
In the first semen analysis, 21% of men had leukocytospermia. By the second analysis, leukocyte concentrations were within the normal range in 9 of these 21 men, corresponding to a downward variation of 43%. In contrast, 7 of 78 patients with normal leukocyte levels at the first analysis had leukocytospermia at the second analysis, corresponding to an upward variation of 9%. The upward variation rates for sperm concentration, total motility, and morphology were 4%, 17%, and 4%, respectively. Downward variation rates were considerably higher for total motility and morphology (30% and 28%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The rate for spontaneous downward variation of leukocytospermia in the absence of treatment was 43% in this study. This rate should be taken into consideration when treating infertile men with leukocytospermia, because effective medical therapy is still lacking.
Department of Urology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria. jakob.lackner@meduniwien.ac.at
Jakob E
JE
Lackner
Emina
E
Lakovic
Thomas
T
Waldhör
Georg
G
Schatzl
Michael
M
Marberger
D000328:Adult; D048430:Cell Shape; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*