The microbiome and male infertility: looking into the past to move forward

Abstract

The human body harbours trillions of microbes, and their influence on human health has been explored in many parts of the human body, including the male reproductive system. From routine culturing to polymerise chain reaction (PCR) and high throughput DNA sequencing, several studies have identified bacteria in the male reproductive system. In this review, we discuss the past and current literature surrounding the testicular and semen microbiome in correlation with male infertility. We further highlight the potential benefits of probiotics as an alternative therapeutic option for male infertility. Although not conclusive, emerging data are indicating potential implications of certain bacterial members on male fertility. There is a general agreement on the negative impact of some pathogenic bacterial species on semen parameters, including sperm counts, motility, morphology, and DNA integrity. On the other hand, Lactobacillus, known as a human-friendly bacteria, has shown protective effects on semen parameters, which makes it a potentially good probiotic. In order to confirm the findings of previous studies, more clinical studies with larger sample sizes and the right controls are needed.