Seminal Plasma from Vasectomized Men as a Means of Disseminating Bacteria

Abstract

Introduction: Vasectomy is a definitive method of male contraception, which prevents the passage of sperm through the vas deferens. However, seminal plasma has the ability to transport different microorganisms.
Objective: To determine the presence of DNA of C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoeae, U. urealyticum, M. genitalium, M. hominis and the isolation by culture of aerobic bacteria in vasectomized semen samples.
Materials and methods: Semen samples from 10 vasectomized volunteers and 7 non-vasectomized volunteers, and apparently healthy, were collected and evaluated according to the World Health Organization guidelines. Quantitative culture on blood agar, chocolate and MacConkey, DNA extraction using the phenol-chloroform technique and DNA detection from the microorganisms using the polymerase chain reaction technique was performed in each semen sample.
Results: Some microorganism growth was obtained in the 10 vasectomized volunteers samples assessed. Some of them were Staphylococcus coagulase negative, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus viridans, and Pseudomona putida. Only U. urealyticum DNA was detected in 70% of the seminal samples from vasectomized volunteers and in 57% in the volunteers.
Conclusion: Vasectomized men can be reservoirs of microorganisms (including microbiota) and transport those microorganisms to the female reproductive tract, which could cause important alterations such as infertility