Abstract
In more than half of infertile men, the cause of their infertility is unknown. Several studies revealed the role of viral infections in male infertility. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 in semen from asymptomatic infertile male patients, and its association with altered semen parameters. A total of 70 semen samples were collected from infertile men who attended the Research and Clinical Center for Infertility in Yazd, Iran. Semen analysis and diagnostic real-time PCR using specific primers and probes for HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA were performed. Comparison of semen parameters between virally infected and non-infected samples were performed with independent t-test and Mann-Whitney test. Semen analysis showed that infertile men fell into two groups, the male factor group and the unexplained group. HSV-1 and HSV-2 DNA was detected in 16 (22.9%) and 10 (14.3%) of 70 semen samples, respectively. All HSV-positive samples had abnormal semen parameters (the male factor group). Although HSV infection was not associated with sperm motility and morphological defects, it was correlated with lower sperm count in the seminal fluid. The findings suggest that asymptomatic seminal infection of HSV plays an important role in male infertility by adversely affecting sperm count.
Highlights
Infertility, a major problem of modern medicine, is defined as the inability of sexually active couples to achieve pregnancy after 12 months
Semen analysis of positive and negative samples for herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) and herpes simplex viruses (HSV)-2 DNA revealed that all positive samples had abnormal semen parameters
Cases which have each of male factor group parameters classifed in this group, but cases who exhibit all unexplained group parameters must be categorized in unexplained groups
Summary
Infertility, a major problem of modern medicine, is defined as the inability of sexually active couples to achieve pregnancy after 12 months. Infertility affects nearly 20% of reproductive-aged couples, in which 40%-50% of these cases are male infertility[1,2]. The major causes of male infertility include varicocele, endocrine disturbances, immunological conditions, genital duct obstruction, gonadotoxins, medications, cryptorchidism, infection, sexual dysfunction, and ejaculatory failure[3]. Herpes simplex virus infection and male infertility fertility are idiopathic (of unknown etiology)[3,4]. Several microorganisms, such as chlamydia, gonococcus, mycoplasma and herpes simplex viruses (HSV) can colonize in the male genital tract[5]
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