Post Date April, 15 2023
There is no clear understanding as to whether chronic prostatitis can affect fertility. Theoretically, prostatitis affects both the amount and composition of semen, and interferes with sperm activity and function, leading to infertility. However, some patients with severe symptoms of prostatitis are still fertile. Therefore, the relationship between chronic prostatitis and infertility should be viewed dialectically. The main effects of chronic prostatitis on the physical and chemical properties of semen include:
(1) When inflammation occurs in the prostate, the secretion of prostate fluid decreases, which reduces the amount of semen and interferes with the survival and vitality of sperm.
(2) Prostatitis causes decreased enzyme activity in prostate fluid, increased semen viscosity, and prolonged liquefaction time, affecting sperm activity; The decrease in the amount of nutrients necessary for sperm or substances that assist sperm activity, especially the decrease in the content of trace element zinc, directly affects the survival and activity of sperm. In addition, when chronic prostatitis occurs, bacterial toxins in prostate fluid or excessive congestion of the prostate can destroy liquefaction factors and reduce liquefaction factors. As a result, semen viscosity increases and sperm activity decreases, making it impossible to reproduce. This is also the most important reason for infertility caused by chronic prostatitis.
(3) Inflammation lowers the pH of semen and causes the body to produce antisperm antibodies, leading to sperm death.
(4) Prostate fluid contains a large amount of bacteria and bacterial toxins, which can consume the nutritional components of seminal plasma, thereby affecting the survival of sperm.
It is worth mentioning that although it is not certain that chronic prostatitis will inevitably lead to infertility, for infertile patients, it is still necessary to check whether they have chronic prostatitis, and it is better to cure them quickly.
(Intern Editor: Cai Junyi)
