Evaluation of periodontal status among men undergoing infertility treatment

Abstract

Aims: It has been estimated that >30% of male infertility cases are of idiopathic etiology. Recent studies revealed a positive connection between periodontal pockets and sperm submotility, which proposes that periodontitis may have a role in male infertility and inadequate semen quality. The aim of the present investigation was to inspect the relationship between male fertility parameters and the periodontal status of male patients attending in vitro treatment (IVF) clinic. Materials and Methods: The study participants comprised 85 men going to the facility for sperm investigation before semen insemination. The nature of sperm was surveyed by the WHO 2010 criteria. On the same day, male patients were examined for periodontal parameters. Results: The patients were determined to have either gingivitis (24.7%) or periodontitis (75.3%). Normospermia was credited to 23.5% and oligozoospermia to 43.5%. Sperm submotility was seen in 76.4% of patients. A higher number of sites with clinical attachment loss showed a positive correlation with sperm submotility and sperm count. Conclusions: The findings of the present study showed a conceivable relationship between male infertility, decreased semen quality, and periodontal diseases in men visiting IVF centers. Periodontitis may subsequently play a role in male infertility.

Periodontitis, erectile dysfunction, reproductive hormones, and semen quality: A systematic review

“…Pocket probing depth was considered in 13 studies, 14‐18,29‐36 level of clinical attachment was reported in 12 studies, 14‐18,29‐31,33,34,36,37 and bleeding on probing was reported in 6 studies 15‐17,30,33,34 . Of the 17 studies selected, only 4 considered the number of missing teeth 16,18,29,33 and 2 considered tooth mobility 16,36 …”

“…Semen quality was evaluated in all studies using a seminogram (seminal fluid analysis) (Table 3). 16,17,29,30,38 The semen quality analysis was based on criteria defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen (1999) 43 or (2010) 44 depending on the selected studies. A total of 728 patients from six retrospective studies 16,17,29,30,38,45 with a mean age of 33.45 years were included for investigating the relationship between periodontitis and semen quality.…”

“…Out of six selected studies, three showed a significant positive association between semen quality and periodontitis 30,38,45 . Nwathor et al assessed the semen quality using criteria defined by the WHO (1999) 43 .…”

“…Nwathor et al were the first to demonstrate a significant association between periodontitis and subnormal sperm count (0.02599 [CI = 0.141089–2.03891]) among subjects and controls between the 30 and 38 years age group, as well as a significant association between periodontitis and periodontal pocket, and abnormal semen quality 38 . Chidambar et al 30 demonstrated that there was a positive correlation between poor periodontal status and semen quality (oligospermia and sperm motility). In this study, the reference level of sperm cell concentration in ejaculate was taken as values of ≥20 × 10 6 per mL or greater, with at least 25% rapid progressive motility.…”

“…Sperm submotility was considered pathologic when <25% spermatozoa were classified as having a rapid progressive motility. Poor periodontal status had significant effect on semen quality and quantity; loss of clinical attachment was significantly correlated with low ejaculation volume (range of ejaculation volume was considered normal when it was between 1.5 and 5.5 mL), weak sperm motility, and subnormal sperm morphology (range of sperm morphology was considered as the reference level when it was 5% or more) 30 . Recently, in a case‐control study, Tao et al 45 also using the criteria of the WHO (2010) 44 concluded that after adjusting for confounding factors, participants with periodontitis had a greater chance of having semen abnormalities (sperm concentration below 15 × 10 6 per ml, total number below 39 millions per ejaculate, progressive motility below 32%, and total motility below 40%) (OR = 3.377, p = 0.005) (Table 3).…”