Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40437565›Full record

Observational studyBMC medicine2025

Effect of human papillomavirus infection on semen quality and assisted reproductive technology outcomes: a prospective observational cohort study.

Sara Stigliani, Erika Coppo, Maria Bonaffini, Elena Maccarini, Francesca Bovis, Ida Casciano, Claudia Massarotti, Fausta Sozzi, Anna Marchese, Paola Scaruffi and 1 more

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Sara StiglianiSSD Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
Erika CoppoU.O. Microbiologia, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
Maria BonaffiniU.O. Microbiologia, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
Elena MaccariniSSD Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
Francesca BovisDepartment of Health Sciences (DISSAL), University of Genova, Genoa, Italy.
Ida CascianoSSD Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
Claudia MassarottiSSD Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
Fausta SozziSSD Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
Anna MarcheseU.O. Microbiologia, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
Paola ScaruffiSSD Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy. paola.scaruffi@hsanmartino.it.
Paola AnseriniSSD Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV) adversely affects human reproduction. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HPV infection in men and its correlation with semen parameters and reproductive outcomes.

methodsIn this prospective observational cohort study, 384 semen samples were collected from 237 male partners of infertile couples. The presence of HPV DNA and genotyping were analyzed in semen by quantitative PCR. A total of 186 intrauterine inseminations (IUI) in 101 couples and 186 assisted reproduction techniques (ART) cycles in 155 couples were performed. Associations between HPV positivity and semen parameters and fertility outcomes were evaluated using a generalized linear mixed model.

resultsThe prevalence of HPV was 22.7%. Twenty-three HPV types were detected and 69.5% of positive samples presented at least one high risk (HR)-HPV genotype. HPV-18 (14%), HPV-53 (10%), and HPV-56 (10%) were the most prevalent HR-HPV genotypes followed by HPV-16, HPV-31, and HPV-51 (8%). HPV-42 was the most prevalent low risk (LR)-HPV genotype (25%). More than one HPV type was detected in 41% of HPV + samples. After capacitation, 30% of HPV + samples remained positive. We found no relationship between HPV infection and sperm volume, sperm concentration, and progressive motility both before and after semen capacitation. We observed a not significant different clinical pregnancy per cycle in the HPV - (6.8%) and HPV + (5.0%) IUI. We did not find any significant difference in fertilization, cleavage, quality of developed embryos, blastocyst formation nor in embryo utilization of ART cycles. Slightly lower cumulative pregnancy (33% vs 39%) and live-birth (25% vs 30%) rates and higher miscarriage rate (53% and 29%) were observed in HPV + with respect to HPV - cycles. Fifty-five neonatal outcomes from HPV - (n = 45) and HPV + (n = 10) cycles were available. No stillbirths as well as no malformations were recorded.

conclusionsThis study confirmed previous findings that HPV DNA is present in semen of one quarter of infertile couples. No significant association of seminal HPV presence with semen parameters was found. We observed a trend of worst clinical outcomes in the HPV + group that is worth further investigation in a large population to draw definitive conclusions.

Indexed as

Papillomavirus InfectionsReproductive Techniques, AssistedSemenSemen AnalysisAdultCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMalePapillomaviridaePregnancyProspective StudiesAssisted reproductive technology (ART)HPV semen infectionHuman papillomavirus (HPV)InfertilityIn vitro fertilization outcomes

Identifiers

PMID40437565
PMCPMC12121255

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.