Herpes & HPV

sar_k

Hi,

I see that there are no tests for Herpes and HPV. is it possible to be infected with Herpes or HPV from the sperm?

cryo-admin

Hi S -

Please feel free to email me at nicole@cryobank.com if you would like more information on this topic. Our medical director is a board certified pathologist and I can send you her more detailed response to your question.

Although molecular studies designed to detect viral nuclei acid have detected HPV in semen, there is no compelling scientific evidence that HPV is actually transmitted person to person in this manner. It’s highly unlikely that HPV would be transmitted to a woman through sperm donation. There have been no documented reports of genital warts or cervical cancers as a result of HPV transmission to a donor sperm recipient.

It’s important to note that there is no FDA approved test for routine screening of HPV in men. The HPV tests that are available to screen women for HPV infection on a Pap smear sample cannot be directly applied to screening men. The PCR test is not intended for use on semen, and has not been shown reliable for routine screening of semen donors. CCB only uses tests that have been validated for both accuracy and reliability and are licensed by the FDA. All tests that we use are performed in an independent licensed and accredited laboratory.

There is also no scientific evidence that a man without physical evidence of HPV infection (i.e. warts) is at risk for transmitting HPV to a woman through sperm donation. There is no scientific data to suggest that detecting HPV DNA in the semen will improve the safety of donor insemination for the recipient or the potential offspring.

Many of these same principles apply to screening for herpes virus. Herpes Simplex Virus, particularly type 2, (HSV-2) is the virus associated with genital herpes.
As with HPV, there is no screening test that is designed specifically for detection of HSV-2 in semen. The various DNA tests available are either approved for other uses or are still fraught with false positives and false negatives.

While it's been published that one can find traces of virus in semen, the primary mode of transmission is via mucosal lesions rather than via semen. There is no consensus on the value and sensitivity of a PCR test for HSV in semen. We would not necessary trust negative results of a lab test. Thirty-plus years of observation support our policy and management procedure.

We address the minimal potential risk of HPV and HSV transmission through regular physical exams where our physicians evaluate donors for evidence of genital infection. We also frequently and thoroughly examine a donor’s social and sexual history, including any sexual partners’ medical history, to identify risk factors for all sexually transmitted diseases. The medical director scrutinizes all of the laboratory and physical findings to determine a potential donor’s eligibility as a good sperm donor.

Regards,

Nicole
CCB

2momsOfCR

Very good question! I hadn't thought of this.