BACTERIAL FOCI IN THE TEETH, ORAL CAVITY, AND JAW - SECONDARY EFFECTS(REMOTE ACTION) OF BACTERIAL COLONIES WITH RESPECT TO BACTERIOSPERMIAAND SUBFERTILITY IN MALES

Bacteriospermia requiring medical treatment were diagnosed in more tha n 70% of the subfertile patients who had since 1988 attended the gynec ological clinic at the RWTH hospital in Aachen. In 23% of all cases sp ecific treatment with antibiotics did not reduce the concentrations of bacteria in sperma. Thirty-six patients with bacteriospermia resistan t to antibiotic therapy were then subjected to dental examination. A h igh incidence of potential dental foci was found in all patients. In a test group of 18 patients these sources of potential infection were e liminated. Between dental operations and therapy swabs were taken to d etermine bacterial levels and bacteriological composition. It could be demonstrated that the bacterial spectrum of the intraoral samples was almost identical with the spermiograms. Six months following completi on of dental treatment a further spermiogram analysis was carried out. In the test group about two thirds of the spermiograms proved sterile . Spermatological parameters, such as motility, density and morphology , had also clearly improved. In the control group the findings of the spermiogram remained poor. This study indicates that a direct causal r elationship exists between bacterial colonies (dental foci) and therap y-resistant bacteriospermia which probably leads to subfertility.