What is Leukocytospermia and Its Impact on Male Fertility?

Leukocytospermia, or Pyospermia as it is also known, is a condition characterized by a high concentration of white blood cells in semen. According to the WHO, this is defined as 1 ml of semen with more than 1 million white blood cells.

The high concentration of white blood cells can weaken sperm and damage genetic material by the release of reactive oxygen species. Leukocytospermia is not very common and affects less than 5% of infertile men.

Causes of Leukocytospermia

Leukocytospermia can be caused by many factors including:

Inflammation
Genital infections
Autoimmune disorders
Varicocele veins
Narrowing of the urethra
Systemic illnesses
Consumption of alcohol, marijuana or smoking
Infrequent ejaculation

The most common cause amongst the above is a genital infection caused by sexually transmitted microbes such as Chlamydia or other common microbes like Mycoplasma and E. coli. In some cases, men with this condition may not show any symptoms.

Diagnosis usually takes the form of urine tests to check for the presence of bacteria and other microorganisms that may trigger this condition. In rare cases, a semen culture may be required. If the test does have a positive result, you must abstain from sexual relations until the condition is treated and cured. This is because most of these infections can be sexually transmitted and may even cause permanent female infertility.

Treatment of Leukocytospermia

Treatment for this condition is aimed at removing white blood cells from semen. A course of antibiotics is a common form of treatment. This may be prescribed even if no bacteria are found in the urine test. Alternatively, NSAIDs may be prescribed to increase the sperm count. If the condition is caused by other underlying conditions such as a varicocele, surgery may be required to correct the varicocele. Other things that could help include: