Abstract
BackgroundHIV-1 infected patients show impaired semen parameters. Currently, it is not clear whether HIV-1 infection itself or antiretroviral therapy have an effect on semen parameters. We aim evaluate semen quality in a large cohort of fertile HIV-1 infected men under stable highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and to assess the effect of HAART type and duration on semen parameters.Materials and methodsBetween January 2010 and June 2014, we enrolled in a retrospective case-control study 770 HIV-1 patients under stable HAART asking a reproductive counselling with their HIV negative partner. Co-infections with HBV or HCV, genital tract infections and known causes of infertility represented exclusion criteria. Semen samples were analysed and compared with the WHO reference values. A multivariate analysis including HAART type and duration, age, viral load and CD4 count, was performed on 600 patients out of 770.ResultsThe median values of all semen parameters were significantly lower among HIV-1 infected patients compared to the WHO reference group, with a significant proportion of patients having values below the 5th percentile of the WHO reference value. In a multivariate analysis, only age and viral load negatively impacted progressive motility (β -0.3 (95% CI: -0.5; -0.0) %, p<0.05) and semen morphology (β -0.00 (95% CI: -0.00; -0.00) %, p≤0.01), while no associations were detected as regards HAART type and duration.ConclusionsHIV-1 infected patients showed a significant impairment of semen parameters compared to the reference values. HAART type and duration showed no associations with semen quality. Further research is needed to investigate implications for clinical care of HIV infected men desiring a child.
Highlights
The likelihood of detecting HIV-RNA in semen of infected men has been shown to be extremely low in cases of prolonged efficient highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) [1,2,3,4]
The median values of all semen parameters were significantly lower among HIV-1 infected patients compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) reference group, with a significant proportion of patients having values below the 5th percentile of the WHO reference value
Only age and viral load negatively impacted progressive motility (β -0.3 %, p
Summary
The likelihood of detecting HIV-RNA in semen of infected men has been shown to be extremely low in cases of prolonged efficient highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) [1,2,3,4]. For this reason natural conception may be considered as a safe option in HIV discordant couples, based on the very low probability of HIV sexual transmission. We aim evaluate semen quality in a large cohort of fertile HIV-1 infected men under stable highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and to assess the effect of HAART type and duration on semen parameters
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