Identification and treatment of leukocytospermia in couples with unexplained infertility

J Reprod Med. 1995 Sep;40(9):625-9.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether identifying men with leukocytospermia in couples with unexplained infertility and treating them with antibiotics improves pregnancy rates.

Study design: A prospective, cohort study of men with and without leukocytospermia was identified on a smear of semen using Bryan-Leishman stain. Cumulative six-month pregnancy rates were determined for members of the leukocytospermic group who responded to treatment with resolution of their leukocytospermia on a semen smear, those who failed to respond to treatment, those not treated and those without leukocytospermia.

Results: Thirty-six of 53 men with leukocytospermia responded to antibiotic treatment, and 19 women in these 36 couples (53%) became pregnant within the six-month follow-up period. Only 7 of 17 (6%) of those who failed to respond to treatment had their partner become pregnant (P < .001). Partners of men with leukocytospermia and no treatment had a 6% pregnancy rate, and the women in 13% (5/42) of couples without leukocytospermia became pregnant (P < .001).

Conclusion: Leukocytospermia exists in a significant number of males with unexplained infertility and normal semen analyses. Identifying and successfully treating such men results in a significant improvement in pregnancy rates. These men may be a subgroup with male infertility that can be identified and treated.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cohort Studies
  • Doxycycline / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male / drug therapy*
  • Infertility, Male / etiology
  • Infertility, Male / pathology
  • Leukocytosis / drug therapy
  • Leukocytosis / pathology*
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Prospective Studies
  • Semen / cytology*
  • Semen / physiology
  • Sperm Count
  • Sperm Motility / physiology
  • Sperm-Ovum Interactions / physiology
  • Spermatozoa / pathology*
  • Spermatozoa / physiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Doxycycline