Human Papillomavirus Infection, Infertility, and Assisted Reproductive Outcomes

Abstract

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection common among men and women across all geographic and socioeconomic subgroups worldwide. Recent evidence suggests that HPV infection may affect fertility and alter the efficacy of assisted reproductive technologies. In men, HPV infection can affect sperm parameters, specifically motility. HPV-infected sperm can transmit viral DNA to oocytes, which may be expressed in the developing blastocyst. HPV can increase trophoblastic apoptosis and reduce the endometrial implantation of trophoblastic cells, thus increasing the theoretical risk of miscarriage. Vertical transmission of HPV during pregnancy may be involved in the pathophysiology of preterm rupture of membranes and spontaneous preterm birth. In patients undergoing intrauterine insemination for idiopathic infertility, HPV infection confers a lower pregnancy rate. In contrast, the evidence regarding any detrimental impact of HPV infection on IVF outcomes is inconclusive. It has been suggested that vaccination could potentially counter HPV-related sperm impairment, trophoblastic apoptosis, and spontaneous miscarriages; however, these conclusions are based on in vitro studies rather than large-scale epidemiological studies. Improvement in the understanding of HPV sperm infection mechanisms and HPV transmission into the oocyte and developing blastocyst may help explain idiopathic causes of infertility and miscarriage.

Effect of human papilloma virus infection onin‐vitrofertilization outcome: systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…The results of this systematic review and meta-analysis are in accordance with those of other reviews. Noventa et al 31 , Pereira et al 32 and Souho et al 33 in their reviews investigating the impact of HPV on infertility, IVF failure and pregnancy outcomes, employing data from some of the studies presented here, showed conflicting results or no correlation. Importantly, Souho et al 33 indicated that factors with a potentially negative impact include cervical HPV-induced cytological lesions and eventual changes in fetal health.…”

Relationship Between Infertility and Digital Cervicography Findings in Cameroonian Women

“…In women, HPV is capable of causing difficulty in conception and abortions through reduction of endometrial implantation of throphoblastic cells (17,18). In males, HPV is associated with altered sperm motility (17,19,20). With these in mind, one would have expected a strong association between cervical neoplasia and female infertility in our study.…”

“…Though the mechanism is not yet understood, recent studies are showing that HPV is associated with altered fertility. In women, HPV is capable of causing difficulty in conception and abortions through reduction of endometrial implantation of throphoblastic cells (17,18). In males, HPV is associated with altered sperm motility (17,19,20).…”

The Risk of Human Papillomavirus Infection for Spontaneous Abortion, Spontaneous Preterm Birth, and Pregnancy Rate of Assisted Reproductive Technologies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia trachomatis , Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and HPV may affect fertility or reproductive outcomes [36, 37]. Our meta-analysis results showed that there was no significant association between HPV infection and pregnancy rate of ART, with a pooled RR of 1.04 (95% CI 0.64–1.70).…”