Impact of prostatitis NIH IIIB (prostatodynia) on ejaculate parameters

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Reproductive Medicine
• Andrology

Background:

• Prostatitis NIH category IIIB is characterized by chronic pelvic pain without prostatic inflammation.
• The link between chronic prostatitis and male fertility remains controversial.
• Understanding fertility outcomes in prostatitis patients is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the fertility data of patients diagnosed with prostatitis NIH category IIIB.
• To compare fertility parameters between prostatitis patients and an age-matched control group.
• To investigate the relationship between symptom duration and fertility in prostatitis patients.

Main Methods:

• Prospective analysis of fertility data from 30 patients with prostatitis NIH category IIIB.
• Comparison of ejaculate parameters (volume, motility, fructose concentration, sperm density, morphology) between patient and control groups.
• Correlation analysis between symptom duration and sperm parameters.

Main Results:

• Significant differences observed in ejaculate volume, sperm motility, and fructose concentration between prostatitis patients and controls.
• Three patients with prostatitis exhibited azoospermia, compared to none in the control group.
• No significant correlation found between symptom duration and sperm density, motility, or morphology.

Conclusions:

• Prostatitis NIH category IIIB is associated with detrimental changes in ejaculate quality, including reduced motility and fructose concentration.
• These findings support a potential somatic etiology for the chronic pelvic pain experienced by these patients.
• The study highlights the impact of prostatitis on male reproductive health.