Mycoplasmas in Semen from Fertile and-Infertile Men

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Abstract
Mycoplasma cultures were obtained from ejaculates of 50 men in couples whose infertility remained unexplained after comprehensive testing of both partners, from 32 men with high serum titres (71:32) of sperm-agglutinating antibodies whose wives were apparently normal, and from 32 men without sperm-agglutinating antibodies whose wives were pregnant. 2 sperm samples were obtained from each of the men and cultures were also obtained from 38 of the wives in couples with unexplained infertility. T-mycoplasmas were cultured from 38 of the 50 ejaculates (76%) of men with unexplained infertility. When results of the isolations of T-mycoplasmas from both husbands and wives were compiled, T-mycoplasmas were isolated from 40 of the couples (80%). T-mycoplasmas were found in 15 of the 32 men with high serum titres (47%) and in 6 of the recent fathers (19%). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of doxycycline was determined for a total of 39 T-mycoplasma isolates; the majority were sensitive to concentrations of .03 mcg/ml or less. Doxycycline 200 mg on the 1st day followed by 100 mg daily for another 9 days, cyclically from the 7th to the 16th day of the menstrual cycle, was given to both partners of the infertile couples from whom T-mycoplasmas were isolated. 9 pregnancies were reported among the 40 couples. 14 men with T-mycoplasma infections and high serum titres of sperm agglutinating antibodies were treated with 200 mg doxycycline daily for 3 months to establish whether eradication of the mycoplasmas would affect the serum titre of antibodies. 1 pregnancy was reported in the group but no change in the titre of sperm-agglutinating antibodies in the serum or the degree of agglutination in the ejaculate was observed in any of the men. After 3 months of treatment, ejaculates from 31 of the men were cultured and found to be negative. The findings support recent studies suggesting an association between T-mycoplasma infection and infertility.

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