Male infertility caused by microbial infection and immunological disorder

Microbial infection and immunological disorder in the male genital tract are among the etiological factors of male infertility. The testis and epididymis possess special immune environments for protecting the sperm from detrimental immune responses and counteracting invading microbial pathogens. However, specific pathological conditions, such as infection, chemical toxins, and tissue injury, may lead to infectious or autoimmune orchitis and epididymitis, resulting in male infertility. Moreover, infectious prostatitis, seminal vesiculitis, and urethritis may impair sperm quality and male fertility. Understanding the mechanisms underlying infectious and immunological infertility can aid in the development of novel preventive and therapeutic strategies. This review describes the mechanisms underlying male infertility caused by infectious and immunological diseases in the male genital tract.