HHV-6 and Male infertility (from Perplexity)
Make the case that HHV-6 may be responsible for the fertility problems in men Make the case that HHV-6 may be responsible for the fertility problems in men There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that Human Herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) may play a role in male fertility problems. Here is the case based on recent research findings: Prevalence in Semen and Sperm Binding: Studies have identified HHV-6A/B in approximately 13.5% of semen samples from healthy sperm donors, a prevalence higher than that of most other herpesviruses in semen. Importantly, HHV-6B has been shown to specifically bind to the acrosome—the cap-like structure on the head of sperm. This means that the virus can directly interact with sperm cells and potentially travel with them into the female reproductive tract. Potential Mechanisms of Fertility Impairment: The binding of HHV-6 to the sperm acrosome suggests the existence of a receptor for the virus on sperm, raising the possibility that this interact...