Association of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection with Varicocele-related infertility

Abstract

Background: The role of seminal colonization of Ureaplasma urealyticum in varicocele-related infertility was investigated.Methodology: Semen samples were obtained from infertile patients with or without varicocele and healthy controls and were subjected to routine semen analysis and PCR. DNA was extracted by Cadieux method and analyzed by PCR protocol with species-specific primers for U. urealyticum (urease gene).Results: U. urealyticum was detected by PCR in 23 of 146 (15.75%) semen specimens from infertile patients and in 3 of 100 (3%) healthy men (P0.05).Conclusion: Although the colonization of U. urealyticum does not affect the semen quality, the high prevalence of this microorganism in varicocele patients may be an additional negative factor affecting varicocele status and worsening reproductive potential.

Keywords

• Ureaplasma urealyticum
• infertility
• varicocele
• semen
• PCR
• spermatozoa.