UREAPLASMAS UREALYTICUM AND HUMAN INFERTILITY: EFFECT ON SPERMATOZOA MORPHOLOGY

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Microbiology
• Urology

Background:

• Involuntary infertility affects a significant number of males.
• The role of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in male infertility is debated.
• Sperm morphology is a key indicator of male reproductive health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in seminal fluid of infertile males.
• To assess the relationship between these microorganisms and sperm count and morphology.
• To identify specific sperm morphological changes associated with ureaplasma and mycoplasma infections.

Main Methods:

• Seminal fluid analysis of 197 infertile males.
• Spermatozoal count and morphological assessment.
• Culture for Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis.

Main Results:

• Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis were detected in 43.15% and 16.75% of cases, respectively, compared to control groups.
• No correlation was found between ureaplasma/mycoplasma growth and sperm count.
• Coiled tails, fuzzy tail coat, and microcolonies were highly specific but not sensitive markers for culture positivity.

Conclusions:

• Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis are prevalent in infertile males.
• While certain sperm morphological abnormalities are specific, their low sensitivity limits their utility as sole diagnostic markers for these infections.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the direct impact of these microorganisms on male fertility.