Trying to Conceive: Can Clean Teeth Improve Male Fertility?
I have a sperm infection that is interfering with my attempts to start a family. My dentist said the infection may be related to my gum disease. How is this possible?
Question:We all know that regular brushing and flossing prevents tooth decay and gum disease. Studies also suggest that good oral hygiene habits may improve fertility in subfertile males.
Subfertile men have reduced reproductive capacity. Subfertility can be caused by many factors including a bacterial infection in the male reproductive system. Directed antibiotic therapy alone may not offer a permanent cure. This is because oral bacteria may reinfect the reproductive system when they are intermittently released into the blood stream during gingival bleeding. Indeed, the bacteria present in the semen (called bacteriospermia) or ejaculate of infected patients are often identical to common intraoral bacteria. Escherichia coli can reach the male reproductive organs via the circulatory system and reduce sperm motility (Linossier et al. 1982). Bieniek et al., (1993) found that the presence of bacteria in sperm was eliminated when dental cleanings and directed antibiotic therapy were both prescribed. Improvement in sperm motility, morphology and density has also been noted after subfertile males participated in regular dental cleanings (Ensslen et al. 1990).
Bieniek et al., (1989) suspects a direct causal relationship between dental diseases and asymptomatic bacteriosperms, which probably leads to subfertility.
Dr. C. Matthew Peterson, fertility specialist, adds "One investigative group has raised the possibility that intraoral bacteria may be a source of recurrent bacterial contamination of the sperm. Further work will determine the actual relationship of intraoral bacteria and bacteriospermia." I'd like to thank Dr. Peterson for lending insight and reviewing this question.
This is another reason to regularly brush and floss your teeth!
References:
Bieniek et al., "Diseases of the masticatory system as possible causal factors of infertility" ZWR (1989) 98(10):850, 852, 854.
Bieniek et al., "Bacterial foci in the teeth, oral cavity, and jaw: Secondary effects (remote action) of bacterial colonies with respect to bacteriospermia and subfertility in males" Andrologia (1993) 25(3):159-162.
Ensslen et al., "Male subfertility and oral bacterial diseases" Zentralbl. Gynaekol. (1990) 112(13):823-825.
Linossier et al., "Sperm immobilization by dental focus microorganisms" Andrologia (1982) 14(3):250-255.
