Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in men attending for routine semen analysis -: Prevalence, incidence by age and clinical settings, influence on sperm characteristics, relationship with the leukocyte count and clinical value

Aim: To investigate the clinical value of the screening of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis in routine semen analysis. Material and Methods: Semen samples of 234 patients with several clinical settings (infertility, varicocele, spontaneous abortion, genital infections, undescended testicles, hemospermia, etc.) were distributed in three study groups: group 1-negative cultures; group 2-normal colonization (less than or equal to10(3) colony-forming units (cfu)/ml), and group 3-pathogenic colonization (>10(3) cfu/ml). Frequency rates, incidence by age and clinical settings, association with abnormal sperm characteristics (density, vitality, motility and morphology) and with the leukocyte count were investigated. Results: Prevalence of U. urealyticum was higher than M. hominis (less than or equal to10(3) cfu/ml: 28.2 vs. 24.8%; >10(3) cfu/ml: 20.5 vs. 13.3%). No difference was detected on the incidence of mycoplasmas by age and clinical settings, as well as in regard to the mean values of sperm density, vitality, motility, oval-headed sperm and leukocyte count (p>0.05). Conclusion: In spite of the high incidence of mycoplasmas, not enough information was available regarding the influence of these microorganisms on the sperm quality and their relationship with the leukocyte count. Therefore, screening of U. urealyticum and M. hominis for routine semen analysis is not clinically relevant. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.