Prostaglandin levels in infertile patients affected by asthenozoospermia and prostatitis.

19-hydroxy-prostaglandins and prostaglandins of the E series (19-OH PGEs) were estimated in the seminal plasma of asthenozoospermic patients (n = 15) and individuals affected by prostatitis (n = 10) and compared to controls (n = 13) and secretory azoospermic patients (n = 8). All of them were free from infections (except individuals affected by prostatitis), biochemical and ultrastructural problems. The results indicate that endogenous prostaglandin levels (19-OH PGEs and PGEs) bear no correlation either to motility or absence of spermatozoa. Significant increases of PGEs were observed in patients affected with prostatitis. Surprisingly PGE levels showed no correlation with the levels of 19-OH PGEs.