Ureaplasma urealyticum in semen: is there any effect on in vitro fertilization outcome?

Objective: To determine the effect of the presence of Ureaplasma urealyticu m in semen on IVF outcome (fertilization, pregnancy, and abortion rates). Design: Prospective study. Setting: Private IVF unit in Athens, Greece. Patient(s): One hundred ninety-one asymptomatic men with normal semen param eters whose wives underwent an IVF cycle. Intervention(s): Culture of semen for U. urealyticum on the day of oocyte r etrieval. Main Outcome Measure(s): Fertilization, pregnancy, and abortion rates after IVF. Result(s): Ninety-six (86%) of the 112 women whose husbands' semen was nega tive for U. urealyticum and 65 (82%) of the 79 women whose husbands' semen was positive for U. urealyticum underwent ET. The pregnancy rate (PR) was 2 0% (19/96) in the negative group and 17% (11/65) in the positive group. An increased incidence of abortions (6/11) was observed in the positive group (abortion rate, 54%), compared with 21% (4/19) in the group of women whose husbands' semen was negative for U. urealyticum. Conclusion(s): Fertilization rates and PP,s may not be affected by the pres ence of U. urealyticum in semen on the day of oocyte retrieval. It can be p resumed that the semen preparation for IVF cleanses the semen of U. urealyt icum. On the other hand, the higher abortion rate in the U. urealyticum-pos itive group might be related to maternal factors, such as an existing U. ur ealyticum infection or one contracted after conception. (Fertil Steril(R) 1 999;71:523-7. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)