The Impact of Chlamydia Infection on Sperm Quality, Reactive Oxygen Species Levels, and Its Relationship with Leukospermia in Infertile Men

Introduction: Evidence indicates that Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is typically a genital infection that does not show symptoms. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) can harm sperm and influence semen quality. This study explored the relationships among semen quality, ROS, leukospermia, and CT infection. Additionally, we evaluated the impact of doxycycline treatment on leukospermia independently.Methods: A study was conducted involving ۵۴۸ men, of whom ۷۵% (۴۱۱ patients) had abnormal sperm parameters, while ۱۳۷ men (۲۵%) had normal sperm parameters and were placed in the control group. Chlamydia IgA levels was checked using ELISA and validated through nested PCR. ROS levels were assessed using chemiluminescence, and white blood cell (WBC) counts were performed using the peroxidase staining method. Patients who tested positive for Chlamydia received antibiotics under the supervision of urologists. After a two-week course of ۱۰۰ mg doxycycline administered twice daily for infected men and their partners, semen samples were re-evaluated to assess sperm quality, ROS levels, and WBC counts.Results: Results showed that ۶.۰۸% of patients (۴.۶۲% in the case group, ۱.۴۶% in the control group) were ELISA IgA positive, demonstrating ۱۰۰% sensitivity and ۹۸.۹۹% specificity. C. trachomatis DNA was found in ۷۸.۹۴% of the patient group and zero percent in the control group. CT infection was significantly related to teratozoospermia (P-value=۰.۰۳۵) and pyospermia (P-value=۰.۰۳۰). Following treatment, the infected patients exhibited negative PCR tests and improvements in ROS levels (P-value=۰.۰۰۱), WBC count (P-value=۰.۰۳۲), and normal morphology (P-value=۰.۰۱۵). Doxycycline decreased ROS levels, which may have a beneficial impact on WBC reduction and improved sperm morphology. Five months post-treatment, ۲۶.۶۶% of the wives of previously infertile men became pregnant.Conclusions: These findings indicated a link between asymptomatic chlamydia infection, semen parameters, ROS levels, and WBC counts in infected men. Medication treatment positively influenced sperm parameters, resolving infection and potentially treating male infertility.

کلیدواژه ها:

Doxycycline ، Chlamydia ، Spermatozoa ، reactive oxygen species