[Bacteriospermia: Effects on semen parameters]

Bacteriospermia may result in male hypofertlity. Indeed, 60% of patients treated by Assisted Reproductive Techniques had a local infection or inflammation of genital tract. However, direct effects of bacteriospermia on semen parameters remain controversial. The aim of our work was to explore the effect of bacteriospermia on sperm parameters among patients consulting for hypofertility.

A retrospective comparative study of two groups: a group of 70 patients with bacteriospermia (group 1) and a control group of 70 patients without bacteriospermia (group 2). For these groups, we studied the standard semen parameters (seminal volume and viscosity and spermatozoa count, initial and secondary mobility, vitality and morphology). Comparison of these parameters was made by the Chi² test and the Fisher test.

The mean age of our population was 40.4±6.7 years. There was no significant difference between ejaculate average volume in the 2 groups (group B: 2.78mL versus group A: 2.92mL with P=0.2). Similarly, for the viscosity no difference was noted (P=0,68). The altered parameters in the presence of bacteriospermia were mean concentration and sperm motility (P=0.001 and P=0.049 respectively). The prevalence of secondary asthenospermia was higher in the presence of bacterospermia (P=0.006). No statistically significant differences were observed for morphology and vitality of spermatozoa (P=0.276 and P=0.075 respectively). The leucospermia was associated with bacteriospermia in 10% patients. Ureaplasma urealyticum was the germ most found (45.7%) followed by Streptococcus and Staphylococcacae (20.3% for each), Gram negative rods accounted for 12.9%, while Corynebacterium spp was isolated only in 4,3% patients. U. urealyticum was associated with hypospermia in 33% of cases (P=0.031). Spermatozoa motility was significatively decreased not only in the presence of this bacteria (FT=0.002) but also when cultures were positive for Streptococcus (0.04) and Corynebacterium (P<0.001). Morphological abnormalities were also noticed with Streptococcus with index of teratozoospermia of 46% versus 19% in the 2nd group (P=0.046).

Bacteriospermia may impair sperm parameters. The treatment of this affection seems to improve sperm fertilizing potential. In addition, it could prevent contamination of culture media.