Effect of HCV chronic infection on semen parameters

Although the incidence of hepatitis C has decreased in the last decades, it is estimated that about 3% of world population is still affected by HCV virus. Most of affected male is in reproductive age. Even though HCV sexual transmission is doubtful, HCV RNA can be detected in the semen of 11% - 31.6% of infected males. Moreover, HCV RNA was found in semen plasma and in not-spermatic cells like lymphocytes , but not in sperm before and after swim-up. The aim of our study is to evaluate semen parameters of HCV positive patients compared to normal WHO 2010 semen parameters.