Antibiotic treatment of asymptomatic Ureaplasma infection improves semen parameters in infertile men

The role of asymptomatic infections caused by Ureaplasma species in male infertility and the efficacy of antibiotics in treatment of this failure is not yet definitely determined. A total of 165 infertile males having abnormal semen parameters (study group) as well as 165 healthy fertile men (control group) were included in this study. Semen samples were taken from all participants and after analyzing, undergone real-time PCR, microbial culture, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays. Infected individuals of study group were treated with antibiotic. One month after the treatment completion, second semen samples were taken and undergone all the tests mentioned. The frequency of Ureaplasma spp. was significantly higher in the infertile men compared with the fertile ones (36.4% versus 11.5%; p < 0.001). Most of semen parameters were improved (p < 0.05) and reached their normal range, the level of TAC elevated (p < 0.001), and ROS level (p = 0.003) as well as ROS/TAC ratio (p = 0.003) reduced after antibiotic treatment. Moreover, wives of 37 infertile men (61.7%) became pregnant six months after the treatment completion. These findings indicate that Ureaplasma species are correlated with male infertility and that antibiotic therapy can improve the semen parameters and treat the male infertility. (C) 2016 Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice. Published by Elsevier Sp. z o. o. All rights reserved.