Infertility is a pressing reproductive health issue in modern society, with male factors accounting for approximately 50% of all cases. However, most research on male infertility has primarily focused on the testis, often ignoring the critical role of the prostate. As the largest male reproductive gland, the prostate plays a vital role in semen quality. Prostatic fluid, a major component of semen, significantly influences sperm function and overall male fertility. Prostatitis, the most common prostate disorder among men, particularly with advancing age, can severely impair reproductive health. This article aims to explore the fundamental physiological functions of the prostate, the etiology of prostatitis, and its impact on sperm health.
The incidence rate of prostatitis is the highest among reproductive male prostate diseases, and a considerable number of men will suffer from prostatitis throughout their lives. Generally, prostatitis includes acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, chronic prostatitis/ chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and asymptomatic prostatitis. In particular, the incidence rates of chronic bacterial and prostatitis with chronic pelvic pain are high, accounting for 90% of prostatitis patients, and this condition seriously affects the physical and mental health and sexual life of men. It is obvious that bacterial prostatitis can significantly affect sperm quality and lead to male infertility. (Hua et al., 2025)
How sperm is linked to miscarriage
Seminal plasma contains various proinflammatory and immunomodulatory factors that may be beneficial for fertilization, implantation, and pregnancy.
However, an imbalance of cytokines in seminal plasma could result in infertility and miscarriage.
Relationship Between Prostaglandin and Interleukin Concentrations in Seminal Fluid and Their Influence on the Rate of Fertilization
Sperm count, motility, and morphology are semen parameters that directly affect male fertility. The presence of cytokines in seminal plasma negatively or positively influences these parameters. Interleukins and prostaglandins are proinflammatory cytokines present in human seminal plasma and play crucial roles in fertilization, as well as after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures. If you are interested in the science, please refer to the study below which revealed that denaturation of sperm nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) contributes to low fertilization rates with PGE2 also influencing embryo development.
Men tend to be reluctant in seeking medical assessment so perhaps understanding just how important healthy sperm and semen for fertilisation but also preventing early miscarriage, may help them seek medical assessment as part of pre-conception preparation. You can also read more about men’s role in fertilisation in my book – available on Amazon.
References:
Amor, H., Dahadhah, F. W., Jankowski, P. M., Al Nasser, R., Jung, L., Juhasz-Böss, I., Solomayer, E. F., & Hammadeh, M. E. (2025). Relationship Between Prostaglandin and Interleukin Concentrations in Seminal Fluid and Their Influence onthe Rate of Fertilization in Men Undergoing ICSI. Int J Mol Sci, 26(15). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157627
