Sperm characteristics and accessory sex gland functions in HIV-infected men

A comparative study was carried out in the andrology clinic, Parirenyatwa H ospital, Harare, Zimbabwe, to investigate the sperm characteristics and acc essory sex gland functions in HIV-infected individuals. Sixty-two patients with infertility problems who attended the clinic were requested to donate semen and blood after consent was obtained. HIV antibodies in paired semen and blood samples, sperm morphology, sperm count, sperm motility, seminal l eucocytes, seminal fructose, seminal neutral cc-glucosidase, and citric aci d were analyzed. Nine out of 31 blood samples tested positive, while 21 out of 62 semen samples were positive for HIV. Leucocytospermia was associated with HIV seropositive men (p <.01). The accessory sex gland function, as e valuated by biochemical markers, was not affected in HIV-seropositive men. HIV causes impairment of sperm motility by activating seminal leucocytes, w hich in turn induce oxidative stress on the sperm. Leucocytospermia is almo st always present in HIV-seropositive men.