We aim to study the semen carriage of human papillomavirus (HPV) and evaluate its association with patient characteristics. We conduct a single-center cohort study at Amiens University Hospital Center (Amiens, France). From May 1 to October 31, 2021, 461 men consulting for infertility and with semen analysis data were included. Each participant gave his written informed consent for the use of laboratory, demographic, clinical, and lifestyle data. A proportion of the semen samples were sent to a virology laboratory for HPV screening in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. In univariate and multivariate analyses with a logistic regression model, HPV+ and HPV− groups were compared with regard to semen characteristics (including the DNA fragmentation index and the sperm decondensation index) and demographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables. Semen HPV carriage was detected in 22.3% of the patients. High-oncogenic-risk HPV genotypes were predominant (57.6%). Multivariate analysis showed that HPV carriage was significantly associated with the presence of at least one abnormal spermogram dinging (according to the 6th World Health Organization criteria), with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 4.10 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.32–7.25, P < 0.001). A statistically significant association was also found for the type of infertility (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.00–2.57, P = 0.05), the presence of varicocele (OR: 3.99, 95% CI: 1.48–10.71, P = 0.01), and a history of cryptorchidism, testicular ectopia, or monorchidism (OR: 3.54, 95% CI: 1.07–11.66, P = 0.04). Infection with a single HPV genotype or multiple HPV genotypes was significantly associated with at least one abnormal spermogram finding for all HPV oncogenic risk groups (OR: 3.93, 95% CI: 2.08–7.41, P < 0.001; and OR: 4.11, 95% CI: 1.58–10.68, P = 0.01, respectively). The association between sperm HPV carriage and the risk of infertility was statistically significant in a multivariate analysis (OR: 5.63, 95% CI: 3.16–10.01, P < 0.001) and after adjustment for the propensity score (OR: 6.10, 95% CI: 3.33–11.21, P < 0.001). Our results suggest that semen HPV carriage has an impact on male fertility. Sperm screening for HPV might be a useful addition to the work-up for male infertility.

Keywords: human papillomavirus; male infertility; polymerase chain reaction; sperm characteristics

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