November, 2008 | Fertility and Sterility, Vol. 90, No. 5, November 2008
Ann A. Kiessling, Ph.D., Bryan M. Desmarais, B.S., Hui-Zhong Yin, M.D., Joseph Loverde, M.S., and Robert C. Eyre, M.D.
Ann A. Kiessling, Ph.D., Bryan M. Desmarais, B.S., Hui-Zhong Yin, M.D., Joseph Loverde, M.S., and Robert C. Eyre, M.D.
Objective: To detect and identify bacteria in semen by sequencing polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–amplified ribosomal RNA gene regions (rDNAs). Design: BacterialrDNAsweredetectedbyPCRamplificationofsemenDNA.Conditionswereadjustedtodetect only abundant organisms, no fewer than 20,000 bacteria/mL of semen. Setting: Clinical andrology laboratory and academic research laboratories. Patient(s): Men undergoing fertility evaluation (n 1⁄4 29) or vasectomy (n 1⁄4 5). MainOutcomeMeaure(s): FrequencyofbacterialrDNA–positivespecimens,relationshipofrDNAstobacteriain GenBank,…