Epididymal stereocilia in semen of infertile men: evidence of chronic epididymitis?

As free stereocilia in semen samples from infertile men could be related to a subclinical chronic infection of the seminal tract, we carried out a retrospective analysis of 14 files of infertile men with stereocilia in semen (group 1) and in two control groups: 30 infertile men from the same study population (group 2) and 40 fertile sperm donors (group 3). Clinical, bacteriological, sonographic and microscopic findings associated with these semen samples were compared. Epididymal cysts were found in two of 14 men in group 1 and in four of 28 in group 2. Positive semen cultures for Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis or Ureaplasma urealyticum (chi(2) = 8.20; P = 0.002; OR: 7.22) and varicocele (chi(2) = 8.96; P = 0.002; OR: 2.25) were associated to the presence of free stereocilia in semen. These data suggest that a silent chronic infection of the epididymis by C. trachomatis, M. hominis, U. urealyticum and/or inflammation produced by varicocele might be the cause of stereocilia loss in the semen.

Sperm dysfunction in subfertile patients with varicocele and marginal semen analysis.

A comparative analysis of potentially functional spermatozoa per ejaculate, progressive motility, hypo-osmotic swelling test, acrosome integrity and sperm viability (24 and 48 h) was carried out in a group of 40 subfertile patients with varicocele and marginal semen analysis and 40 fertile subjects, in order to identify subclinical abnormalities that may explain subfertility. Patients with varicocele had lower numbers of potentially functional spermatozoa per ejaculate, progressive motility, acrosome and membrane integrity and sperm viability. These abnormalities were not related to the grade of varicocele, testicular volume or serum FSH concentration. A positive correlation between the hypo-osmotic swelling test and progressive motility (r = 0.71) and between potentially functional spermatozoa and the hypo-osmotic swelling test (r = 0.69) was found in patients with varicocele. These data suggest that some of the deleterious effects produced by the varicocele might be related to sperm migration and viability in the female genital tract and others to sperm-zona interaction and/or sperm-egg fusion.

Bacteriospermia and male infertility: a method for increasing the sensitivity of semen culture.

OBJECTIVE: To test a method for increasing the sensitivity of semen culture. Design-Prospective and transverse. Setting-Andrology clinic at a tertiary care health institution in Mexico City. PATIENTS: 65 infertile patients with abnormal semen, bacteriospermia detected on Gram stain and at least two previous negative semen cultures (<3 months) were included to test routine semen culture and a method including centrifugation of semen at 10,00 rpm for 20 minutes. Localization cultures were also carried out in all patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Bacterial isolation in semen samples. RESULTS: Routine semen culture was positive in 22% of patients, while centrifuged aliquots of the same semen sample were positive in 52% of patients (chi2 = 6.60, P < .01). Enterococcus was isolated in 43% of patients, E. coli in 24%, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus in 19%, and U. urealyticum in 14%. Ninety percent of isolates corresponded to specimens from the urethra and the prostato-vesicular region. CONCLUSION: Sensitivity of semen culture increased with centrifugation of semen samples. Localization pattern and type of isolates suggest that these patients had chronic prostatitis and that episodic elimination of bacteria might also explain false negative semen cultures in patients with chronic asymptomatic infection of the accessory sex glands.

[The clinical study of male infertility]. / Estudio clínico de la infertilidad masculina.

Male infertility study requires systematization of clinical and paraclinical diagnostic procedures and the knowledge of frontier techniques to analyze functional capacity of human spermatozoon. The application of the various methods of assisted reproduction in male infertility treatment, should be judged with a good criterion in order to offer maximal benefit and least risk. New methods to handle gametes and standardization of existing ones, could, in the future, offer better alternatives in male infertility treatment.

[Index of cells obtainable from semen: indicator of fertility?]. / Indice de células recuperables del semen: indicador de fertilidad?

It has been recognized that semen analysis is not a sensible nor a specific tool for detecting infertility in the male. Its predictive value is limited by the subjectivity of manual analysis, a high variability of semen parameters in fertile men and lack of correlation between sperm characteristics and fertility indexes. In this paper we present evidence supporting the concept that calculating an index of potentially fertile cells from data obtained in a regular semen analysis might be useful for predicting fertility in the male.