A new study from Argentina suggests that high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in men may be associated with increased sperm death, potentially impacting fertility. This research adds to the growing body of evidence on the effects of HPV on male reproductive health.
HPV, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, often presents without symptoms but can lead to serious conditions such as genital warts and, in some cases, cancer. Annually, approximately 33,000 women in the European Union are affected by cervical cancer related to HPV.
Published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, the study from the National University of Córdoba analyzed semen samples from 205 men who visited a urology and andrology clinic between 2018 and 2021 and had not been vaccinated against HPV. Among these samples, 19% tested positive for HPV, with a higher prevalence of high-risk strains.
Researchers assessed semen quality among men with high-risk HPV, low-risk HPV, and no HPV infection. The results indicated that men with high-risk HPV had a higher likelihood of sperm death, lower white blood cell counts, and elevated levels of reactive oxygen species—factors known to contribute to male infertility.
Senior author Virginia Rivero, a professor of immunology at the National University of Córdoba, noted, “Even if we don’t exhibit symptoms, HPV, particularly high-risk types, might interfere with male fertility.” However, the study found no correlation between HPV infection and other standard markers of semen quality, such as sperm count and motility. Overall, sperm death levels were relatively low, suggesting that while HPV might impact sperm quality, it is not the sole factor in fertility issues.
The researchers also pointed out that HPV is not continuously shed through semen, which means that some men with negative samples might still harbor the infection. This finding highlights the complexity of HPV’s role in fertility and suggests that more extensive studies are needed.
The small sample size limits the study’s conclusions, but it provides insight into potential mechanisms affecting fertility. Increased oxidative stress in sperm, linked to high-risk HPV infections, may damage DNA and contribute to decreased success rates in fertility treatments like intrauterine insemination (IUI). Despite these findings, there is potential for developing eggs to repair damaged sperm DNA post-fertilization.
“The next step is to increase the number of participants to verify our results,” Rivero added, emphasizing the need for further research. Previous studies on HPV and sperm quality have shown mixed results, indicating that while this study offers valuable insights, more evidence is required to draw definitive conclusions.
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