Semen analysis results are negatively affected in patients with vitiligo: A cross-sectional study from Turkey

Abstract

Objective: Male fertility can be affected by a variety of organ diseases, commonly \rincluding the testis, in the form of cryptorchidism and hypogonadism. The evidence \rrelated to the fact that male infertility depends on skin disease is still not adequate. \rThe aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical features and semen analysis results \rof vitiligo patients and control cases.\rMaterial and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January \r2015 and January 2021 by retrospectively evaluating patients who underwent sperm \ranalysis at İstanbul Medeniyet University Göztepe Training and Research Hospital. \rPatients with vitiligo (n=76) were included in the study as the vitiligo group. The control group was selected from age- and body mass index-matched patients who underwent semen analysis (n=71).\rResults: The mean age was 30.29±4.18 years, the mean age at onset of vitiligo was \r23.66±3.96 years, and the mean disease duration was 6.36±2.80 years in the vitiligo \rgroup. The free T4 (FT4) levels were significantly lower in the vitiligo group than in \rthe control group (p<0.001). When we evaluated semen analysis results, we found \rsperm concentration (p<0.001), A + B motility (p<0.01), and morphology (p<0.001) \rsignificantly better in the controls than in the patients with vitiligo.\rConclusion: We found that the FT4 level was lower, and semen analysis results were \rnegatively affected in patients with vitiligo. The clinical management of vitiligo should \ralso include its effects on the semen and the male reproductive system.