Detection of high-risk HPV DNA in semen and its association with the quality of semen

The effects of seminal high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA were assessed on the quality of semen. Semen samples of 65 men participating in the ongoing Finnish HPV Family Study were collected. Semen analyses were done by the guidelines of the Nordic Association for Andrology. HPV DNA was detected by nested polymerase chain reaction and confirmed by Southern blot hybridization for high-risk types. Altogether, 10/65 men (15.4%) had high-risk HPV DNA positive semen sample. Seminal high-risk HPV DNA did not affect semen volume, sperm concentration, motility and vitality of spermatozoa. However, semen pH was borderline lower in HPV DNA positive than negative samples (7.4 vs 7.5). Neither oligo- nor asthenozoospermia was associated with seminal HPV DNA. In conclusion, seminal high-risk HPV DNA was detected in 15% of men. It did not affect the semen analysis, except semen pH by borderline significance. Sperm donors have not been tested for HPV infections, sperm washing does not seem to eliminate the risk of HPV transmission and the consequences of HPV in the semen are at present unknown.