The Effect of a Treatment with Doxycycline on Semen of Asthenozoospermic Patients with T-Mycoplasma Genital Infection

Abstract

The pathogenic role of T-mycoplasma [Ureaplasma] seminal infection in male sterility is a matter of controversy. The aim of this study was to observe the effect of a specific treatment in asthenozoospermic patients in which the only finding was the presence of T-mycoplasma in semen. Twenty-five patients (age 24-49 yr) were incorporated. Average time of known infertility was 4.0 .+-. 0.5 yr. Asthenozoospermia was diagnosed by at least 3 previous spermatograms. All other studies were negative with the only exception of the tests to study the T-mycoplasma presence in semen. Each patient was treated with doxycycline (200 mg/day) for 20 days. Control spermatograms were performed at 30 and 90 days from treatment initiation. After treatment, the tests to detect the presence of T-mycoplasma in semen were negative in all patients. A significant increase of the percentages of forwardly progressive spermatozoa and of live and motile spermatozoa was observed together with a significant decrease of the non-motile spermatozoa percentage. Qualitatively, 11 patients (44%) achieved a normalization of the spermogram; 5 patients (20%) obtained significant improvements while 9 patients (36%) did not experience any significant change. Although the real significance of T-mycoplasma in the determination of male sterility is still a matter of controversy, its presence in semen in asthenozoospermic patients should be considered and, consequently, treated.