Effect of bacterial isolates on the seminal indices of men investigated for infertility in Gombe

The significant contribution of the male partner to infertility is no longer in doubt. There is however little disagreement regarding the frustrating experience with medical management of male infertility. The effect of infection as a contributor to abnormalities in semen parameters has been reviewed. The study was aimed at identifying male factor contribution to infertility and the influence of bacterial infection on seminal parameters.All 202 patients were spouses of infertile women who presented to the Gynaecological clinic of the FederalMedicalCentreGombe over a one-year period, fromJanuary toDecember 2001 inclusive. The density of spermatozoa ranged from 0-844x10 /ml with a mean of 44.588.5 x10 /ml. Only 94 (46.5%) of the patients had the reference lower limit normal density of 20 million spermatozoa/ml or more. However, 111 (55%) were normozoospermic for total count with 64 (31.7%) being oligozoospermic. There were bacterial isolates from the seminal fluid of 134 (66.3%) patients thatwas predominantly accounted for by S. aureus 67.2% (90/134). The seminal fluid produced was 1-8mls, with a mean of 3.11.7mls of which 45 (22.3%)were oligospermic.ThemeanpHwas 7.10.3, in 16 (7.9%) patients the seminal fluidpHwas 8-9.There were 27 (13.4%) azoospermic men, in 163 (80.7%) the spermatozoa had normal morphology of 70% or more while 12 (5.9%) men had abnormal morphology of 30% or more i.e. were teratozoospermic.All cases with noabnormal (or normal)morphologywere actually azoospermic.There was a significant association between the presence of bacterial isolate in the seminal fluid and oligozoospermia.However themotility,morphology or thecount do not seemto be affected by the presence of infection. Bacterial presence contribute significantly to poor semen quality in our environment. Primary prevention and prompt treatment of urogenital infections could reduce the infectious contribution to male infertility.Keywords: Urogenital infection,Male infertility, Semen quality