INFECTION AND PYOSPERMIA IN MALE-INFERTILITY

Infections of the male genitourinary tract may contribute to infertili ty by adversely affecting sperm function, causing anatomical obstructi on or initiating a leukocyte response. The majority of infertile males are asymptomatic, and the significance and the criteria for the diagn osis of a genital tract infection are controversial. The evaluation fo r a genital tract infection focuses on urine and semen cultures as wel l as on the accurate quantitation of seminal leukocytes. An elevated s eminal leukocyte count, pyospermia, can be associated with male infert ility and may reflect an infectious or inflammatory disorder. In addit ion, the role of specific genital tract infections such as chlamydiosi s, gonorrhea, ureaplasma and trichomoniasis and their possible associa tion with male infertility is addressed.