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

INTRODUCTION: Male fertility can be affected by a variety of organ diseases, commonly including the testis, in the form of cryptorchidism and hypogonadism. The evidence related to the fact that male infertility depends on skin disease is still not adequate. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical features and semen analysis results of vitiligo patients and control cases.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2015 and January 2021 by retrospectively evaluating patients who underwent sperm analysis at İstanbul Medeniyet University Göztepe Training and Research Hospital. Patients 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).
RESULTS: The mean age was 30.29±4.18 years, the mean age at onset of vitiligo was 23.66±3.96 years, and the mean disease duration was 6.36±2.80 years in the vitiligo group. The free T4 (FT4) levels were significantly lower in the vitiligo group than in the control group (p<0.001). When we evaluated semen analysis results, we found sperm concentration (p<0.001), A + B motility (p<0.01), and morphology (p<0.001) significantly better in the controls than in the patients with vitiligo.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We found that the FT4 level was lower, and semen analysis results were negatively affected in patients with vitiligo. The clinical management of vitiligo should also include its effects on the semen and the male reproductive system.