Human Papillomavirus and Infertility.

Vilma Jeršovienė,Dalius Butkauskas,Jolita Rimienė,Živilė Gudlevičienė

doi:10.3390/medicina55070377

Abstract

Background and objectives. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most commonly sexually transmitted infection. Recent evidence suggests that an HPV infection may affect fertility. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of HPV infections among couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and to identify their awareness of HPV. Material and Methods. A total of 200 samples were collected from couples who received IVF treatment during 2017–2018 in Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos (VUH SK) Santaros Fertility Centre (SFC). For HPV detection, cervical swabs from women and sperm samples from men were taken and a real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for the identification of 14 high-risk HPV types. Sperm parameters were evaluated according to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for 2010. Research subjects answered an anonymous questionnaire to ascertain their knowledge of HPV. Results. After testing of HPV in couples undergoing IVF, it was found that 33 out of 100 couples (33%) were HPV positive. Of these, 19% of women (19/100) and 20% of men (20/100) tested positive. Using Fisher’s exact test, a statistically significant difference was found between HPV infections and abnormal sperm quality parameters (p = 0.023). Conclusions. HPV may have an impact in spermatogenesis, because an HPV infection was more frequently detected in men with abnormal sperm parameters. High-risk HPV 52 was the most common genotype among couples undergoing IVF treatment.

Highlights

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection common among men and women of reproductive age worldwide
HPV may have an impact in spermatogenesis, because an HPV infection was more frequently detected in men with abnormal sperm parameters
8% had been vaccinated against the HPV virus, while none of the men were. This is the first study in Lithuania which has investigated the prevalence of HPV infections among couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and the effect of HPV infections on sperm parameters

Summary

Introduction

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection common among men and women of reproductive age worldwide. In one of the clinical studies, women with a cervical HPV infection were reported to have a significantly lower number of pregnancies after assisted reproduction procedures than women with negative HPV results [6]. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of HPV infections among couples undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and to identify their awareness of HPV. For HPV detection, cervical swabs from women and sperm samples from men were taken and a real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used for the identification of 14 high-risk HPV types. Using Fisher’s exact test, a statistically significant difference was found between HPV infections and abnormal sperm quality parameters (p = 0.023).

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Discussion

Conclusion