title: Males with low serum levels of vitamin D have lower pregnancy rates when ovulation induction and timed intercourse are used as a treatment for infertile couples: results from a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitamin D (Vit D) is important for the regulation of reproductive physiology. In humans, maternal Vit D deficiency has been implicated in several reproductive- and pregnancy-related disorders. Very few data are available regarding the Vit D status in male partners of couples attempting pregnancy. This observational study (IRB Prot. N. 078/13) aimed to evaluate whether low Vit D serum levels in males might decrease the rate of successful conception in couples attempting pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male and female partners of infertile couples (n = 102) were classified into 2 GROUPS according to normal (≥30 ng/ml) or low (below 30 ng/ml) serum Vit D levels in male partners. Semen analysis was performed in each male participant based on the WHO reference criteria. The female partners of both groups were subjected to 3 consecutive cycles of gonadotropin-induced mono-ovulation. The main outcome measures included the clinical pregnancy rate, delivery per patient and per cycle, and miscarriage rate between the 2 groups evaluated at the end of the three-month period of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In male partners of both groups, standard semen analysis did not highlight substantial differences in sperm concentration, sperm progressive motility, or typical form. The pregnancy rates per patient and per cycle and delivery rates per patient and per cycle were all significantly higher (p< 0.05) in couples with normal Vit D levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest the existence of a relationship between male Vit D serum levels and semen ability to begin a pregnancy during cycles of timed vaginal intercourse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. massimo.tartagni@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tartagni
authors.affiliation: University Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics - Ospedali Riuniti di Foggia, Viale Pinto, 71100, Foggia, Italy. maria.matteo@unifg.it.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matteo
authors.affiliation: Centro di Fecondazione Medicalmente Assistita MoMò Fertilife, Bisceglie, Italy. dbaldini@libero.it.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.affiliation: Centro di Fecondazione Medicalmente Assistita MoMò Fertilife, Bisceglie, Italy. mv.tartagni@libero.it.
authors.forename: Mario V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Tartagni
authors.affiliation: Centro di Fecondazione Medicalmente Assistita MoMò Fertilife, Bisceglie, Italy. H.ra@libero.it.
authors.forename: Hala
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alrasheed
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. mariaantonietta.desalvia@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Salvia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. giuseppe.loverro@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Loverro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", Bari, Italy. monica.montagnani@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montagnani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D