High-Risk HPV Affects Male Reproductive Health: Study

A new study published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology indicates that high-risk HR-HPV-positive men had a higher percentage of dead sperm leading to infertility in men.

Cervical cancer, the fourth most prevalent cancer among women, results in around 350,000 deaths annually, predominantly in middle- and low-income countries. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is responsible for 95% of these cases. Public health officials in 37 countries are currently administering vaccines to girls aged nine to 14.

HPV is known to raise the risk of genital warts and cancers of the genitals, anus, mouth, and throat in infected men, which is why the WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend routine vaccination for boys as well. Nevertheless, the complete range of HPV's effects in men and boys is not yet fully understood.

For the study, researchers recruited men tested positive for HPV and they were surprised to discover that men with high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) had significantly fewer CD45+ white blood cells (leukocytes) in their semen. Additionally, they found that sperm from HR-HPV positive men might experience frequent damage from oxidative stress, as indicated by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

While low ROS levels are normal for sperm function, elevated ROS can cause cell membrane rupture, DNA breaks, and uncontrolled cell death. The researchers also observed that HR-HPV positive men had a higher percentage of dead sperm.

Reference: Olivera, C., Paira, D. A., Olmedo, A., Olmedo, J. J., Tissera, A. D., Molina, R. I., Motrich, R. D., Cuffini, C. G., & Rivero, V. E. (2024). Impact of high-risk and low-risk human papillomavirus infections on the male genital tract: Effects on semen inflammation and sperm quality. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 14, 1420307. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1420307