Asymptomatic bacteriospermia and infertility-what is the connection?

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Microbiology
• Urology

Background:

• Asymptomatic bacteriospermia (ASB) in subfertile men is controversial, with ongoing debate regarding treatment necessity.
• Understanding ASB's impact on semen parameters is crucial for male fertility management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between asymptomatic bacteriospermia and semen quality in a cohort of subfertile men.
• To identify specific bacterial strains within ASB that correlate with impaired sperm parameters.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 1300 subfertile men.
• Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were employed to analyze strain-specific associations.
• Semen parameters including sperm concentration, morphology, and viability were assessed.

Main Results:

• ASB was detected in 3.2% of the study population.
• Common bacteria included coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Streptococcus viridans, and Enterococcus faecalis.
• Streptococcus viridans and Haemophilus parainfluenzae correlated with poor sperm morphology; Enterococcus faecalis and coagulase-negative Staphylococci with low sperm viability. Enterococcus faecalis significantly impacted sperm concentration (OR 4.48).

Conclusions:

• Asymptomatic bacteriospermia is demonstrably linked to reduced semen quality.
• Findings support strain-specific effects of bacteria on semen parameters.
• Enterococcus faecalis poses a significant risk to sperm concentration in subfertile men.