Screening of potential semen donors for sexual transmitted diseases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The risk of infection with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) is of great concern to couples undergoing therapeutic donor insemination.

GOAL OF STUDY

We sought to determine the prevalence of STDs in potential semen donors and assess the rate of acquisition of new infection during the follow-up period.

STUDY DESIGN

29 potential semen donors were screened for common STDs.

RESULTS

The study population had a prevalence of the following STDs: 27.5% ureaplasma, 13.8% mycoplasma, 6.9% cytomegalovirus 6.9% group B streptococcus, and 3.4% human papillomavirus infection. No participant tested positive for gonoccoccal or HIV infection. Over all, evidence of STD was present in 10 of 29 (34.5%) prospective donors. A follow-up infection rate of 22.2% (6 of 27 enrolled donors) was found and 3 (11.1%) of these were excluded from semen donation.

CONCLUSION

A high prevalence of sexually transmissible infections is present in potential semen donors. New infections are also common during the follow-up period.