The male factor accounts for almost 50% of
infertility cases.
Inflammation may reduce semen quality via several pathways, including oxidative stress (OxS). As
male infertility routinely is assessed using semen analysis only, the possible presence of non-leukocytospermic
asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis may be overlooked. We compared local and systemic OxS levels in male partners of infertile couples with different
inflammation patterns in their genital tract and/or
oligospermia. Subjects (n=143) were grouped according to
inflammation in their semen, expressed prostatic secretion (EPS), and/or post-
massage urine (post-M). Systemic (8-
isoprostanes in urine) and local (diene conjugates and total
antioxidant capacity in seminal plasma) OxS was measured The levels of OxS markers were significantly elevated in both severe
inflammation groups--leukocytospermic men and subjects whose
inflammation was limited only to EPS and/or post-M. Comparison between oligospermic and non-oligospermic men with genital tract
inflammation, and oligozoospermic men with or without
inflammation in the genital tract indicated that
inflammation but not
oligospermia status had significant impact on the measured OxS markers. Hence, a high leukocyte count in prostate-specific materials (EPS, post-M), even in absence of clear leukocytopsermia, is an important source of local and systemic OxS that may be associated with
male infertility and affect general health. We suggest including the tests for detection of
inflammation of the prostate into the workup of infertile men as was suggested in the WHO 1993 recommendation.