Detection of oncogenic human papillomavirus genotypes on spermatozoa from male partners of infertile couples

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) sperm infection and its correlation with sperm parameters in patients who attended a fertility clinic. Design: Cross-sectional clinical study. Setting: University-affiliated reproductive medicine clinic. Patient(s): A total of 308 male partners of couples undergoing in vitro fertilization techniques. Intervention(s): Specimens of semen were collected from all patients. Main Outcome Measure(s): Sperm parameters were evaluated according to the World Health Organization manual. The presence of HPV DNA was researched by the combined use of two HPV assays and a highly sensitive nested polymerase chain reaction assay followed by HPV genotyping. To examine whether HPV was associated with the sperm, in situ hybridization (ISH) analysis was performed. Result(s): Results of HPV investigation were compared with sperm parameters and ISH analysis. Twenty-four out of 308 semen samples (7.8%) were HPV DNA positive, but HPV infection did not seem to affect semen quality. Moreover, ISH revealed a clear HPV localization at the equatorial region of sperm head in infected samples. Conclusion(s): Oncogenic HPV genotypes were detected on spermatozoa from asymptomatic subjects, but a role of the infection in male infertility was not demonstrated. (C)2013 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.