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Detection of Herpes Simplex DNA in Semen and Menstrual Blood of Individuals Attending an Infertility Clinic *
Author(s) -
Borai Nadia El,
Inoue Masato,
Lefèvre Christophe,
Naumova Ele.,
Sato Bunzo,
Yamamura Masaichi
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0756.1997.tb00799.x
Subject(s) - semen , medicine , infertility , herpes simplex virus , male infertility , exact test , gynecology , polymerase chain reaction , semen analysis , obstetrics , andrology , physiology , virus , immunology , pregnancy , biology , genetics , gene
Objective : To determine a possible link between herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV) and infertility. Method : A specifically designed polymerase chain reaction with nested primers, was developed and used to test for HSV in 153 men and 20 women attending an infertility clinic. Results : HSV DNA was detected in 37 (24%) out of 153 semen samples and in 11 (55%) out of 20 menstrual blood samples. However, HSV DNA (0%) was not detected in the semen of 16 males with children. A significant association between the evidence for infertility and an HSV positive test was observed in men (Fisher's exact test, p = 0.024), and a stronger effect was found in females after failed in vitro fertilization (Fisher's exact test p = 0.0086). Conclusion : This is the first report of the detection of herpes simplex virus DNA in semen and menstrual blood. Encouraging preliminary results justify antiviral therapy in case of a positive test.