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Infection/Inflammation of the Male Genital Tract as Cause of Abnormal Spermatozoa

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Andrology for the Clinician

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Summary

The effects of infection/inflammation of the accessory glands (MAGI) on male fertility depend on the type of pathogen, the acute versus chronic course of the disease and the organ(s) affected. The mechanisms through which MAGI impair the fertilizing capacity of spermatozoa are reasonably well understood. Damage caused by abnormal concentrations of cytokines, growth factors and reactive oxygen species alters the sperm membrane and DNA.

Antibiotic treatment commonly does not result in the restoration of accessory gland function and sperm fertilizing potential. Complementary treatment with antioxidant nutriceuticals and, sometimes, assisted reproduction may be indicated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory for Clinical Pathology, Amerikalei 62-C64, 2000, Antwerp, Belgium

    C. Depuydt

  2. Center for Medical and Urological Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, University Hospital Ghent 6K12IE, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    A. Mahmoud

  3. Department of Urology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    K. Everaert

Authors
  1. C. Depuydt
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  2. A. Mahmoud
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  3. K. Everaert
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center of Dermatology and Andrology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Gaffystraße 14, 35385, Giessen, Germany

    Wolf-Bernhard Schill

  2. Center for Medical and Urological Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, University Hospital Ghent 6K12IE, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Frank Comhaire

  3. Department of Oncology, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Human Genetics Building, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, Scotland UK

    Timothy B. Hargreave

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© 2006 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Depuydt, C., Mahmoud, A., Everaert, K. (2006). Infection/Inflammation of the Male Genital Tract as Cause of Abnormal Spermatozoa. In: Schill, WB., Comhaire, F., Hargreave, T.B. (eds) Andrology for the Clinician. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-33713-X_65

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-33713-X_65

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-33713-3

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