Understanding How Mumps Causes Male Infertility

Mild Illness of Early Childhood can Damage Sperm Production

Mar 2, 2009

Permanent loss of fertility is rare, but up to a third of men who get this disease develop Mumps Orchitis,a consequence of which can be reduced formation of sperms.

Mumps is a highly infectious acute disease caused by infection with an RNA virus. The infection is characterised by fever together with swelling and tenderness of one or more salivary glands. The Parotid gland, which is situated just in front of the ear, on the outer aspect of the cheek overlying the upper jaw bone, is the gland most commonly affected.

Recent Resurgence of Mumps

Usually considered a mild and uncommon disease of early childhood, Mumps these days is undergoing a resurgence, particularly among young adults in their late twenties.

This recent increase in mumps is significant because the disease is more severe when it affects older patients - and in these older patients the infection is more likely to cause complications in various organs. Dr Sanjaya Senanayake, specialist in Infectious Diseases at Canberra Hospital in Australia, observes that mumps infection rates have increased in recent years - with more patients developing disease complications such as Orchitis (inflamed testes), Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) and Meningitis (infection of the coverings of the brain and spinal cord.

Mumps Orchitis

Orchitis is a common complication in adult males, occurring in about 20% of patients who contract infection with the Mumps virus. While permanent loss of fertility is a rare complication, those who develop the complication of Orchitis can suffer damage to the sperm producing cells of the testis - resulting in a reduction of sperm production. In mild cases of the disease, sperm production may cease only for a short time of between six months to one year.

With the availability of vaccination ( two doses given three years apart) of a combined Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR Vaccination), immunity to the disease is easily obtained. It appears that the resurgence of this disease is concentrated among people born between 1978 and 1982, most likely because they missed getting their second dose of the MMR vaccine as children.

Vaccination against Mumps

Any young man who is unsure if he has been immunised should visit his family doctor to check his level of immunity - and if this is inadequate, get a dose of the MMR vaccine.

Mumps has re-emerged as an infection in the developed world. Its epidemiology has changed, with the majority of cases now primarily affecting adolescents and adults. This resurgence of the disease is a timely reminder to young males that there is an association between our general health and our reproductive health - and that looking after our general health with simple precautionary measures such as immunization can reduce the risk of fertility problems in later life.

The copyright of the article Understanding How Mumps Causes Male Infertility in Men’s Health is owned by Sanjiva Wijesinha. Permission to republish Understanding How Mumps Causes Male Infertility in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.