title: Male infertility: a public health issue caused by sexually transmitted pathogens.
abstract: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are caused by several pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and protozoa, and can induce male infertility through multiple pathophysiological mechanisms. Additionally, horizontal transmission of STD pathogens to sexual partners or vertical transmission to fetuses and neonates is possible. Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma spp., human papillomavirus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses, HIV-1 and human cytomegalovirus have all been detected in semen from symptomatic and asymptomatic men with testicular, accessory gland and urethral infections. These pathogens are associated with poor sperm quality and decreased sperm concentration and motility. However, the effects of these STD agents on semen quality are unclear, as are the effects of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mycoplasma spp., Treponema pallidum and Trichomonas vaginalis, because few studies have evaluated the influence of these pathogens on male infertility. Chronic or inadequately treated infections seem to be more relevant to infertility than acute infections are, although in many cases the exact aetiological agents remain unknown.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Cytology and Semen Analysis, Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabrícia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gimenes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Cytology and Semen Analysis, Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Division of Semen Analysis, São Camilo Clinical Analysis Laboratory, Maringá, PR 87013050, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jaqueline C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bento
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology, Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge J V
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.affiliation: Clinical Chemistry and Toxicology Department, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvya S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Maria-Engler
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Departments of Medicine, Pharmacology and Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Marcelo G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bonini
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Cytology and Semen Analysis, Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia E L
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Consolaro
mesh_terms: D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis; D003587:Cytomegalovirus; D006678:HIV; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006515:Hepatitis B virus; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma; D009344:Neisseria gonorrhoeae; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D012661:Semen / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000821:virology; D055101:Semen Analysis; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D018139:Simplexvirus; D014210:Treponema pallidum; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis; D014509:Ureaplasma