The effect of human immunodeficiency virus on sperm parameters and the outcome of intrauterine insemination following sperm washing

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) 2004-10, Vol.19 (10), p.2289-2297
• Main Authors: Nicopoullos, James D.M., Almeida, Paula A., Ramsay, Jonathan W.A., Gilling-Smith, Carole
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - pathology; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - physiopathology; Adult; Anti-Retroviral Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Case-Control Studies; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Insemination, Artificial, Homologous; intrauterine insemination; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; predictors of outcome; Sperm Count; Sperm Motility; sperm washing; Spermatozoa - ultrastructure; Sterility. Assisted procreation; Therapeutic Irrigation; Treatment Outcome; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Viral Load
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deh426

BACKGROUND: This is the first study to assess the outcome of sperm washing and intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles in human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) men to determine any predictors of success, as well as evaluating the effect of HIV on sperm parameters. METHODS: Semen characteristics were evaluated in 106 HIV+ men and a control group of 234 HIV− men, and the effect of markers of HIV disease assessed. Age, stimulation regime, sperm parameters, markers of HIV disease and the use of anti-retrovirals were assessed as predictors of the outcome of sperm washing/IUI cycles in the HIV+ men. RESULTS: Ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total count, progressive motility and normal morphology were all significantly higher in the control group compared to the HIV+ men (P