Effects of ureaplasma urealyticum infection on semen quality and serum sex hormone levels in infertile males
Objective To explore the effects of ureaplasma urealyticum(UU)infection on semen quality and serum sex hormone levels in infertile males.Methods A total of 102 male infertile patients who were treated at Reproductive Center,Chenggong Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University from August 2021 to November 2022 and had positive UU tested by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction were selected as an UU infection group;they were 21-50 years old.One hundred and forty-five males with normal fertility who underwent physical examination in Chenggong Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University during the same period were selected as a healthy control group;they were 23-48 years old.The semen volumes,pH values,sperm concentrations,sperm motilities,sperm forward movement rates,sperm morphology,and serum sex hormone levels of the two groups were examined and compared.The independent-sample t test was used for the statistical analysis.Results The sperm concentration,sperm motility,sperm forward movement rate,and percentage of sperm with normal morphology in the UU infection group were lower than those in the healthy control group[(40.38±16.04)×106/ml vs.(51.12±13.39)×106/ml,(36.31±13.75)%vs.(48.15±12.21)%,(29.23±11.54)%vs.(36.21±10.98)%,and(10.86±6.71)%vs.(15.92±10.65)%],with statistical differences(all P<0.05).There were no statistical differences in semen volume,pH,and serum levels of estradiol(E2),follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH),luteinizing hormone(LH),prolactin(PRL),and testosterone(T)between the two groups(all P>0.05).Conclusion UU infection can decrease the semen quality,and affect the males'fertility.
Ureaplasma urealyticumSemen qualitySperm morphologySerum sex hormones