Evaluation of Adjuvant Administration of a Prophylactic HPV Vaccine in HPV-Positive Infertile Men: A Systematic Review
TL;DR
Limited evidence is identified suggesting a potential benefit of HPV vaccination in infertile HPV-positive men, particularly in terms of shift toward HPV negativity.
Abstract
Background: Accumulating data suggest that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection may be associated with male infertility by impairing sperm quality. An induced anti-HPV humoral immune response could mediate the effective clearance of HPV infection. This systematic review aimed to assess reported differences in semen quality parameters and HPV presence in men with persistent HPV infection after adjuvant administration of a prophylactic HPV vaccine. Methods: Possibly eligible articles were retrieved from three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) since 26 June 2026, with three ultimately included in both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Results: The estimated HPV DNA negativity was 74% (95% CI 59–86) and 98% (95% CI 78–100) at the end of vaccination and 6 months after complete vaccination. Conclusions: This study identified limited evidence suggesting a potential benefit of HPV vaccination in infertile HPV-positive men, particularly in terms of shift toward HPV negativity. Given the small number of available studies and their methodological limitations, further large, well-designed prospective trials are required to determine whether adjuvant administration of a prophylactic HPV vaccine provides clinically relevant benefits in this population.