The Effect of Human Papillomavirus on Sperm Parameters: An Umbrella Review and Meta-analysis

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a prevalent sexually transmitted virus hypothesised to contribute to unexplained male infertility that potentially affects sperm quality. The current research looks at the impact of HPV infections on sperm quality.

Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, and Embase databases were searched on August 24, 2024 for reviews that examined the relationship between sperm quality and HPV infection, which were published between 1996 and 2024. PRISMA guidelines were followed for this study. The AMSTAR tool was used to assess the risk of bias. Evaluation of heterogeneity was conducted by the Q test and I² statistics. Pooled effect sizes were expressed as the standardised mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). These were synthesised using fixed-effect or random effects models as appropriate.

Out of 537 initially identified articles, 16 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were eligible for inclusion. Our umbrella review results showed that HPV infection in semen significantly reduced progressive motility (SMD = -0.48, 95% CI: -0.75, - 0.21), total motility (SMD = -0.59, 95% CI: -0.82, -0.35), sperm count (SMD = -0.27, 95% CI: -0.43, -0.10), viability (SMD = -0.38, 95% CI: -0.62, -0.14), and morphology (SMD = -0.32, 95% CI: -0.53, -0.10).

HPV infections in semen may be a significant factor in the reduction of sperm quality, as observed in HPV-positive relative to HPV-negative individuals.