Influence of urogenital infection on sperm function

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T Diemer1, M Ludwig, P Huwe

  • 1Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Illinois at Chicago 60612-7342, USA. tdiemer@uic.edu

Current Opinion in Urology
|January 29, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Male accessory sex gland infections pose risks to male fertility. Research is identifying molecular mediators involved in how infections and immune responses impact sperm function.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Urology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Male accessory sex gland infections are recognized as detrimental to male reproductive capacity.
  • Pathophysiological mechanisms linking infections and impaired sperm function are being elucidated.
  • Recent research focuses on specific molecular processes affected by these infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize current understanding of male accessory sex gland infections and their impact on male fertility.
  • To highlight the role of bacteria and immunologic events in affecting spermatozoa.
  • To discuss identified mediators responsible for molecular alterations in infected male reproductive tracts.

Main Methods:

  • Review of experimental and clinical studies.
  • Identification and evaluation of molecular mediators.
  • Analysis of pathophysiologic concepts.

Main Results:

  • Male accessory sex gland infections negatively affect male fertility.
  • Both bacterial presence and immunologic responses contribute to impaired sperm function.
  • Specific molecular mediators have been identified that disrupt sperm function during infection.

Conclusions:

  • Infections of the male accessory sex glands present significant risks to fertility.
  • Understanding the molecular mechanisms is crucial for addressing fertility issues arising from these infections.
  • Further research into these mediators may lead to novel therapeutic strategies.

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