Effect of Genital Tract Infection on Citric Acid in Semen of Infertile Male Patients

Abstract

Background: Infertility means the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. It affects approximately 15% of couples. The male factor is the main cause of infertility in 20% of cases and contributes in about 50%. There are many etiologies for male factor infertility. Infectious processes contribute to about 15% of such cases. Citric acid has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory functions in tissues damaged by environmental factors. In addition, it favors the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans in various tissues. Citric acid levels are regulated by testosterone, and like fructose can be elevated in oligozoospermic and azoospermic subjects without a convincing clinical explanation. Objective: To evaluate effect of genital tract infection on level of citric acid in semen of infertile men. Patients and methods: This study was carried out on 30 infertile male patients. Patients were recruited from the Outpatient Clinic of Andrology Unit in Dermatology & Andrology and STDs Departments, Mansoura University Hospital for one year. Results: The mean age of the studied group was 29.57 ± 4.22 years. All studied samples were subjected to antimicrobial sensitivity tests. The most sensitive antibiotics were rifampicin, cefoprazone/sulbactam, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and piperacillin/tazobactam. While the most resistant antibiotics were ciprofloxacin, cephalexin and levofloxacin. The mean of citric acid was significantly increased after receiving antibiotic (16.64 ± 2.24 versus 3.32 ± 1.40 mg/ejaculate before treatment). Conclusion: Citric acid was significantly increased after receiving antibiotic versus before male genital infection treatment.