EFFECTS OF CLINICAL STAGE AND IMMUNOLOGICAL STATUS ON SEMEN ANALYSIS RESULTS IN HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS TYPE-1 SEROPOSITIVE MEN

Complete semen analyses including computer-assisted sperm motility and morphology assessments were performed to determine if semen and sperm differed between HIV-seropositive men and fertile controls, or differ ed with symptoms, or CD4(+) peripheral cell count categories. Previous studies included small numbers of men and presented conflicting concl usions. Two hundred and fifty non-vasectomized HIV-seropositive men an d 38 fertile controls each provided one semen sample. Non-parametric s tatistics were used to analyse both continuous and nominal data. Ferti le men had significantly greater semen volume, sperm concentration, pe rcent motility, percent rapid and linear motility and total strictly n ormal spermatozoa than HIV seropositive men. Neither total number nor subtypes of leukocytes in semen differed between the two groups.;among the HIV seropositive men, significant differences in semen analyses w ere found between CD4(+) cell count, clinical, and AIDS categories. Lo wer CD4(+) cell counts (< 200 mm(-3)) were associated with significant ly lower percent motility, percent normal sperm morphology by strict c riteria, significantly more spermatids in semen, and higher percentage s of teratozoospermia, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and leukocytosperm ia. Healthier men, based on clinical categories, had significantly mor e normal shaped spermatozoa and fewer had azoospermia, oligoasthenoter atozoospermia or leukocytospermia. Many HIV-seropositive men have norm al semen analyses, but as the disease progresses more defects are foun d, particularly in strict criteria sperm morphology.