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HPV DNA Detection in Semen Leads to Premature Proclamation

Artificial insemination using donor sperm is a common treatment for male-factor infertility. The routine screening of semen donors for sexually transmitted infections does not include testing for human papillomavirus (HPV), despite estimates that up to 40 percent of semen donors have HPV. Using amplification by nested polymerase chain reaction, Canadian investigators screened semen from 85 volunteers for HPV DNA before and after sperm washing. Forty-five of the men had a history of HPV infection (i.e., prior or currently visible penile warts), and the 40 randomly selected controls were in apparently good health.

HPV was detected in the semen of 24 (53 percent) men in the HPV group and 3 (8 percent) men in the control group. Sperm washing decreased the HPV DNA to undetectable levels in only 2 of the 27 semen samples with HPV. The authors recommend that only HPV-negative men be eligible for semen donation.

Comment: These findings reveal a low prevalence of HPV DNA in men without a clinical history of HPV infection. Nonetheless, the authors recommend screening men for HPV before semen donation. This recommendation is made without knowing the sensitivity or specificity of this non-FDA-approved test. In addition, there is no evidence that artificial insemination with semen from an HPV-positive donor is harmful to the recipient, the process of conception, or the conceptus.

— SA Carson

Published in Journal Watch Women's Health April 17, 2001

Citation(s):

Olatunbosun O et al. Human papillomavirus DNA detection in sperm using polymerase chain reaction. Obstet Gynecol 2001 Mar 97 357-360.

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