title: Treatment of Leukocytospermia in Male Infertility: A Systematic Review.
abstract: Male factors account for 20% to 50% of infertility cases, and infection in the genitourinary tract may play a contributing role in up to 15% of male infertility. Leukocytospermia is a well-known indicator of infection or inflammation in the male sex glands and the urogenital tract. Although great deal of effort has been expended to elucidate definite management strategies in infertile men with leukocytospermia, the gold standard of treatment remains unclear. Until recently, broad spectrum antibiotics and antioxidants have been used in the treatment of leukocytospermia for male infertility to eliminate infection and reduce reactive oxygen free radicals produced inside cellular mitochondria as a result of inflammation. The present review reveals that antibiotics might improve sperm parameters, the rate of resolution of leukocytospermia, the bacteriologic cure rate, and even the pregnancy rate, although some reports conflict. Antioxidants might also have clinical benefits for sperm function as shown byin vitrostudies. However, the data are insufficient to conclude whether antibiotics and antioxidants for the treatment of infertile men with leukocytospermia are effective or not. Better designed investigations into leukocytospermia are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.; Institute of Evidence Based Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Hung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evidence Based Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.; Yonsei Wonju Medical Library, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung Ha
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evidence Based Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.; Department of Plastic Surgery, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jiye
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evidence Based Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon Koo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.affiliation: Institute of Evidence Based Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Baek
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Dankook University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Seo
keywords: Infertility, male; Leukocyte; Semen analysis; Therapeutics