Effetti del Papillomavirus genitale sulla riproduzione umana

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are agents of the most common sexually transmitted disease that can infect both females and males. More than 100 HPV-genotypes are known, of these, 40 genotypes infect the low genital tract. Based on their association with cervical cancer and precursor lesions, genital HPVs can also be grouped to high-risk and low-risk HPV-types. Diagnosis of HPV infection is sometime difficult because the infection is often transient and asymptomatic. High-risk HPV types are more likely to persist than are low-risk HPV types. It’s the inability of the immune system to spontaneously clear HPV that leads to development of precancerous cervical lesions. It is generally assumed that sexually transmitted disease are a major cause of infertility but currently little is known as to the link or the influence of HPV on fertility, especially those patients who manifest a latent form. In males, HPV-DNA and –RNA have been also found in seminal fluid. Several studies have frequently shown the association of HPV infection with an alteration of sperm parameters, in particular with a reduced sperm motility ; however, no direct relationship with male fertility has been demonstrated even if the impairment of sperm parameters could suggest caution in the use of these cells for assisted reproduction techniques or sperm banking. Key words: human papillomavirus; human reproduction