Ureaplasma urealyticum (T-mycoplasma) in seminal plasma and spermatozoa from infertile and fertile volunteers

Abstract

138 semen samples from infertile and fertile men were collected, analyzed and examined for the presence of Ureaplasma urealyticum. The organism was present in 29% of samples from infertile men and in 36% of samples from fertile volunteers. Heavy growth was obtained from 32% and 42% of the U. urealyticum-positive semen samples from infertile and fertile men respectively. With few exceptions the organism was isolated from both sperm and seminal plasma fractions of positive semen samples after separation and could be demonstrated on the sperm and between them by electron microscopy. U. urealyticum did not alter the semen characteristics or the sperm penetration and viability in cervical mucus. Tetracycline treatment eradicated the organism from 81% of positive cases but no pregnancies were achieved in the partners of the infertile men during the 6-mth study period.