Journal article

Orchitis and male infertility


Authors listSchuppe, H. -C.; Pilatz, A.; Hossain, H.; Meinhardt, A.; Bergmann, M.; Haidl, G.; Weidner, W.

Publication year2010

Pages629-635

JournalUrologe A

Volume number49

Issue number5

ISSN0340-2592

eISSN1433-0563

DOI Linkhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s00120-010-2256-1

PublisherSpringer


Abstract
Infections and inflammations of the genital tract are considered the most frequent causes of reduced male fertility, but conclusive epidemiological data are not available. In view of the exposure of germ cells to pathogenic components as well as the cells and mediators involved in the inflammatory processes, irreversible damage to spermatogenesis and corresponding decline of ejaculate quality are to be expected, particularly in cases of chronic orchitis. While the consequences of orchitis and epididymo-orchitis that exhibit clinical symptoms due to systemic or local infections are well known, including testicular atrophy and complete loss of fertility, those cases of inflammatory reactions of the testicles that manifest an asymptomatic or subclinical course, or are not even due to an infection, have received little attention until now. However, systematic histopathological analyses have shown a high prevalence of asymptomatic inflammatory reactions in testicular biopsies from infertile men. The mostly focal lymphocytic infiltrates correlate with the degree of damage to spermatogenesis and corresponding clinical and endocrinological parameters of testicular function. Noninvasive diagnostic techniques are not yet available so that chronic asymptomatic inflammations of the testicles as the primary cause or cofactor of male fertility disorders are underestimated. Except for administration of pathogen-specific antibiotics, treatment recommendations are to a large extent still lacking.



Citation Styles

Harvard Citation styleSchuppe, H., Pilatz, A., Hossain, H., Meinhardt, A., Bergmann, M., Haidl, G., et al. (2010) Orchitis and male infertility, Urologe A, 49(5), pp. 629-635. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00120-010-2256-1

APA Citation styleSchuppe, H., Pilatz, A., Hossain, H., Meinhardt, A., Bergmann, M., Haidl, G., & Weidner, W. (2010). Orchitis and male infertility. Urologe A. 49(5), 629-635. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00120-010-2256-1



Keywords


epididymitisEpididymoorchitismale infertilityORCHITISprostatitis

Last updated on 2025-21-05 at 18:42