Unraveling the complex interplay: HIV and male infertility
Honghong Yang 1, Jun Yin 2, Kun He 1, Min Liu 1, Xiaoqing He 1, Yushan Wu 1
1 Chongqing Public Health Medical Center, Chongqing, China; 2 Department of Pathophysiology, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Army Medical University; Key Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Medicine, Ministry of Education of China; Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine. Chongqing, China
*Correspondence: Honghong Yang, Email not available
Abstract
This review elucidates the complex interplay between HIV infection and male infertility, underscoring the multifaceted mechanisms through which HIV undermines male reproductive health. These mechanisms encompass diminished semen quality, orchitis, hypogonadism, and leukocytospermia. Concurrently, while antiretroviral therapy (ART) is salvific, it may pose additional fertility challenges. The introduction of highly suppressive ART has revolutionized the reproductive landscape for HIVserodiscordant couples, enabling them to plan for children with minimal risk of HIV transmission, thereby justifying the Undetectable = Untransmissible (U = U) paradigm. Despite these impediments, sperm washing in conjunction with sophisticated assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs), such as in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, offers efficacious fertility solutions for HIV-positive males, substantially mitigating the risk of HIV transmission. Psychological and ethical considerations further shape fertility treatment decisions and outcomes within this demographic. Future research should focus on elucidating the long-term effects of ART on male fertility and devising targeted interventions to enhance reproductive health in HIV-positive men.
