Recent studies suggest a possible link between HPV infections in high-risk men and increased levels of nonviable sperm cells.
High-risk HPV infections seem to result in “substantially higher” cases of dead sperm compared to low-risk HPV strains, according to a recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. This small study indicates.
This increased occurrence of sperm death may be attributed to elevated oxidative stress within the sperm, which can cause DNA damage or impair function.
To date, numerous studies have confirmed that HPV infections impact sperm performance. However, relatively few studies have focused on examining the differing effects of low- and high-risk HPV genotypes, stated Dr. Virginia Rivero, a professor at the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba in Argentina and the lead author of the study, in an email.
HPV consists of a large group of over 150 viruses that are primarily transmitted through sexual contact. It is estimated that 80% of individuals in the United States will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives.
In most cases, HPV clears on its own within two years. Nonetheless, if the infection persists, health complications may arise. Low-risk strains typically result in warts, while high-risk strains are linked to an increased risk of certain cancers, including cervical, anal, penile, and throat cancer.
Rivero and her colleagues analyzed data from 205 adult men who provided samples at an Argentine urology clinic between 2018 and 2021. None of the men had been vaccinated against HPV.
HPV was identified in 39 (19%) of the samples, with high-risk infections being more prevalent. The most frequently detected high-risk strain was HPV 16, found in 16 samples.
The researchers sorted the samples into three groups: those with no HPV or other urological infections detected, those with high-risk HPV infections detected, and those with low-risk HPV infections detected. They then assessed sperm quality in each group through multiple sperm analyses.
The analysis revealed no correlation between HPV infections and declines in common indicators used to evaluate sperm quality, such as sperm concentration or motility. However, samples from men with high-risk HPV infections exhibited 2.5 times more sperm deaths than samples containing low-risk infections, Rivero noted.
Additionally, samples from men with high-risk HPV infections displayed higher levels of cellular stress markers compared to samples with low-risk HPV infections and those without any HPV detection. Furthermore, samples with high-risk HPV infections showed lower leukocyte counts, which are vital components of the body’s defense system.
“High-risk HPV types inflict greater damage on sperm and create a local immunosuppressive environment, which may further facilitate the presence of other infections,” Rivero stated, suggesting a potential advantage of HPV testing in men.
Usually, women are tested for HPV as part of regular Pap tests to monitor cervical cancer; however, HPV testing is not advised for screening men in the United States, and no such screening method has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
“In clinical practice, urologists seldom request HPV testing in men, and genotyping to differentiate high-risk and low-risk types is even rarer,” Rivero pointed out. “Nevertheless, our findings suggest that identifying the HPV strain type would be highly beneficial.”
No need to panic for couples planning a pregnancy
Although the research contributes to the existing knowledge about HPV in men, the clinical implications for couples trying to conceive should not be overstated, emphasized Dr. Bobby Najari, a urologist at NYU Langone Health in New York, who was not involved in the new study.
For instance, a positive HPV test in the female partner could indicate that the male partner is also infected, but couples do not need to be alarmed, Najari stressed.
“There was a significant increase in dead sperm in men with high-risk HPV, but overall, the number of dead sperm in all men, including those with high-risk HPV, was relatively low,” he emphasized. “I also do not believe that these dead sperm are the ones contributing to pregnancy, whether through natural conception or assisted reproductive technologies. Dead sperm do not exhibit the vigorous movement required to travel to the egg for fertilization.”
“If anything, I find it reassuring that key indicators of male reproductive potential – sperm count and sperm motility – were comparable between men with high-risk HPV infections and other men,” Najari concluded. “The only scenario where this study might be relevant is with a man who already has severely impaired sperm production. In that case, a high-risk HPV infection might worsen an already challenging situation. Unfortunately, there are no clinically available methods to diagnose HPV infections in men apart from visible warts or penile cancer.”
The study seems to raise more questions than it answers and suggests that additional research on HPV in men could clarify whether high-risk HPV infections impact fertility and pregnancy outcomes and to what extent, added Dr. Janet Choi, a reproductive endocrinologist and gynecologist serving as Progyny’s chief medical officer.
Although the study found no apparent semen abnormalities associated with HPV, they noted that men with high-risk HPV tendencies had higher rates of nonviable sperm. This could suggest increased DNA fragmentation, a factor linked to infertility and miscarriages in previous studies, Choi, who was not involved in the study, suggested.
An intriguing next step would be to compare men with infertility and abnormal semen to those with normal semen, as well as their infertile partners. This would help clarify the connection since previous studies have shown a prevalence of detectable HPV in men with male infertility and abnormal semen, suggesting at least an association, if not a potential link, between the two.
Several studies have examined the effects of HPV on semen components and discussed the possibility that they could impact sperm count, motility, integrity, morphology, and concentration, thereby affecting fertility. However, other research has found no statistically significant differences in sperm concentration between HPV-negative and HPV-positive semen samples and has not established a role for HPV infection in male infertility.
The clinical relevance of the study to fertility remains uncertain, according to Dr. Lipps, an infectious disease expert at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center who was not involved in the research.
“This research has not clarified whether these differences lead to a significant reduction in male fertility. The study’s main limitation is its small sample size – of the 205 men analyzed, HPV was detected in only 39 samples,” Lipps wrote in an email.
“Overall, the study results are preliminary. More research with larger sample sizes is necessary to verify the impact of HPV infection on male fertility. Anyone with concerns about fertility issues is encouraged to consult their doctor. Importantly, HPV is preventable – there is a vaccine.”
Reduce HPV risk
Although HPV cannot be treated, vaccination can prevent infections.
“Infections with high-risk HPV serotypes can be entirely prevented through vaccination. If parents wish to improve their chances of having grandchildren, they should ensure that their sons receive the complete HPV vaccination at the appropriate age,” Najari suggested.
The CDC recommends two doses of the HPV vaccine for boys and girls aged 11 and 12 years. The first dose should be administered at this age, followed by the second dose 6 to 12 months later. Boys and girls who start the vaccination series after their 15th birthday need three doses administered 6 months apart. The vaccination is not recommended for individuals over 26 years of age.
According to a CDC report published on Thursday, HPV vaccinations among U.S. teenagers have not increased since the onset of the pandemic, with a decline in complete HPV vaccination rates among 13-year-olds born in 2010 compared to those born in 2007.
From 2015 to 2023, an estimated 52.9% of adolescents born in 2007 were fully vaccinated against HPV by age 13, while 45.8% of those born in 2010 were, according to the report. This indicates that the coverage rate among those born in 2010 was at pre-crisis levels, yet the percentage of those fully vaccinated was 7.1 points lower than the 2007 cohort.
“HPV vaccination is crucial for preventing HPV-related cancers,” CDC researchers noted. “Though HPV vaccine initiation has returned to pre-crisis levels per birth year, continued efforts are necessary to enhance HPV vaccination coverage.”
Additional methods for protection against HPV include using condoms during sexual activity or, for women, undergoing HPV tests during routine Pap tests.
Read also:
HPV Infections in High-Risk Men and Nonviable Sperm: Recent Findings Explained
Recent studies suggest a possible link between HPV infections in high-risk men and increased levels of nonviable sperm cells.
High-risk HPV infections appear to result in “substantially higher” cases of dead sperm compared to low-risk HPV strains, according to a recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. This small study suggests that men infected with high-risk HPV may experience an increase in nonviable sperm cells.
This increased incidence of sperm death could possibly be due to heightened oxidative stress within the sperm, which may lead to DNA damage or impaired function. To date, numerous studies have confirmed HPV infections’ impact on sperm performance; however, relatively little research has examined the differential effects of low- and high-risk HPV genotypes, as Dr. Virginia Rivero, a professor at the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba in Argentina and lead author of the study, indicated in an email.
HPV includes a large group of over 150 viruses mainly transmitted through sexual contact. It is estimated that approximately 80% of people in the United States will become infected with HPV at some point in their lives.
Understanding HPV and Its Types
In most cases, HPV infection resolves on its own within two years. However, persistent infections can lead to significant health complications. Low-risk strains typically result in warts, while high-risk strains are linked to various cancers such as cervical, anal, penile, and throat cancer. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for assessing potential impacts on men’s reproductive health.
Study Overview and Findings
Rivero and her colleagues analyzed data from 205 adult men who provided samples at an Argentine urology clinic between 2018 and 2021. None of the men had been vaccinated against HPV.
HPV was detected in 39 (19%) of the samples, with high-risk infections being more frequent. Among the samples, the high-risk strain HPV 16 was the most commonly identified strain, found in 16 samples.
Sample Analysis Categories
The researchers classified the samples into three categories:
- No HPV or other urological infections detected
- High-risk HPV infections present
- Low-risk HPV infections present
Each group’s sperm quality was assessed through multiple analyses. Interestingly, while no significant decline in common sperm quality indicators such as concentration or motility was observed, the study revealed that samples from men with high-risk HPV infections experienced 2.5 times more sperm deaths than those with low-risk infections.
Moreover, samples with high-risk HPV infections displayed elevated levels of cellular stress markers compared to both low-risk samples and those without HPV detection. Additionally, samples with high-risk HPV infections indicated lower leukocyte counts, which are essential components of the immune defense system.
Implications of the Findings
“High-risk HPV types cause greater damage to sperm and create a local immunosuppressive environment, potentially favoring the presence of other infections,” Rivero stated, suggesting that HPV testing in men could be beneficial.
No Need to Panic for Couples Planning a Pregnancy
Despite the research adding to the understanding of HPV in men, its clinical implications for couples aiming to conceive should not be overstated, according to Dr. Bobby Najari, a urologist at NYU Langone Health in New York who was not involved in the study.
While a positive HPV test in a female partner may suggest that the male partner is also infected, Najari emphasized that couples should not panic.
“There was a significant increase in dead sperm in men with high-risk HPV, but overall the total number of dead sperm in all men, including those with high-risk HPV, was relatively low,” he explained. “Furthermore, I don’t believe these dead sperm would contribute to pregnancy, whether naturally or through assisted reproductive technologies. Sperm that die do not have the ability to swim vigorously and reach the egg for fertilization.”
“If anything, it’s reassuring that key indicators of male reproductive potential—sperm count and motility—were similar between men with high-risk HPV infections and other men,” Najari concluded. He added that the only concerning scenario would be for men already experiencing severely impaired sperm production, where a high-risk HPV infection might exacerbate the situation. Currently, clinically available methods to diagnose HPV infections in men outside of visible warts or penile disorders are lacking.
Further Research Needed
The study raises more questions than it answers and indicates that additional research on HPV in men could clarify whether high-risk HPV infections impact fertility and pregnancy outcomes and to what extent, noted Dr. Janet Choi, a reproductive endocrinologist and gynecologist who serves as Chief Medical Officer at Progyny.
While the study revealed no obvious abnormalities in semen associated with HPV, the higher rates of nonviable sperm in men with high-risk tendencies may suggest increased DNA fragmentation—a factor connected to infertility and miscarriages, as previously established in research, according to Choi.
Exploring Links Between HPV and Male Infertility
A valuable direction for future studies would be to compare men with infertility and abnormal semen to those with normal semen, as well as their infertile partners. This could elucidate the connection, as prior research has indicated detectable HPV’s prevalence in men with male infertility and abnormal semen, suggesting at least a correlation, if not a causal relationship, between the two.
Several studies have explored HPV’s effects on semen components, deliberating whether these could impact sperm count, motility, integrity, morphology, and concentration, ultimately influencing fertility. However, other studies have found no statistically significant differences in sperm concentration between HPV-negative and HPV-positive samples, failing to establish a role for HPV in male infertility.
Importance of Larger Sample Sizes
The study’s clinical relevance to fertility remains unclear, according to Dr. Lipps, an infectious disease expert at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center who was not involved in the research.
“This research has not determined whether these differences significantly reduce male fertility. The main limitation is its small sample size; of the 205 men analyzed, only 39 had detectable HPV,” Lipps explained.
“Overall, the study results are preliminary. Further research with larger sample sizes is necessary to validate the impact of HPV infection on male fertility. Individuals concerned about fertility issues should reach out to their healthcare providers. It’s also important to note that HPV is preventable through vaccination.”
Reduce HPV Risk
While HPV infections are persistent, vaccination can prevent these infections.
“Infections with high-risk HPV serotypes can be completely prevented by vaccination. If parents aim to enhance their chances of having grandchildren, they should ensure their sons receive the HPV vaccine at the appropriate age,” Najari advised.
The CDC recommends administering two doses of the HPV vaccine to boys and girls aged 11 and 12 years old. The first dose should be given at this age, with the second dose following 6 to 12 months later. For boys and girls who begin the vaccination series after their 15th birthday, three doses must be given 6 months apart. The vaccination is not advised for individuals over 26 years of age.
According to a CDC report, HPV vaccination among U.S. teenagers has not improved since the pandemic’s onset, showing a decline in complete vaccination rates among 13-year-olds born in 2010 compared to those born in 2007.
From 2015 to 2023, approximately 52.9% of adolescents born in 2007 were fully vaccinated by age 13, while only 45.8% of those born in 2010 achieved full vaccination status, evidencing a 7.1 percentage point decrease for that generation.
“HPV vaccination is crucial to preventing HPV-related cancers,” CDC researchers stated. “While HPV vaccine initiation has returned to pre-crisis levels, ongoing efforts are necessary to enhance HPV vaccination coverage.”
Additional methods to protect against HPV include using condoms during sex or, for women, undergoing HPV tests during routine Pap tests.
Read also:
- The Importance of HPV Vaccination: What You Need to Know
- Understanding HPV: Symptoms, Risks, and Prevention
- Male Reproductive Health: Common Myths Debunked
