Spondyloarthritis & psoriatic arthritis
Semen analysis of patients with psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis and healthy controls
Authors' conclusion
Semen quality in men with PsA and AxSpA is comparable to that of HC. Neither disease activity nor anti-rheumatic drugs substantially affected sperm parameters.
Study context
- Population
- Men aged 18–50 years with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) or axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA), untreated or on csDMARD/bDMARD for ≥3 months, and healthy controls102 patients and 32 healthy controls (HC)
- Participants
- 57 / 45 / 32
- Exposure
- PsA and AxSpA patients vs healthy controls
- PsAn = 57
- AxSpAn = 45
- HCn = 32reference
- Outcome
- Semen quality (WHO 2010 parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation index)
Methodological detailsconsecutive recruitment, healthy controls from candidate sperm donors
- Consecutive recruitment
- Healthy controls from candidate sperm donors
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Semen parameters, patients vs HC
- Vitality slightly lower in patients (81.2±7.6) vs HC (84.4±4.5)
- p=0.02
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Effect of disease activity on semen parameters
- Disease activity states did not affect semen parameters
Effect of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) on semen parameters
- Concentration and total motile count (TMC) lower on csDMARD or bDMARD monotherapy vs untreated and combination therapy, but within normal ranges
- P < 0.05
- All other parameters were normal
Original publication
Semen analysis of patients with psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis and healthy controls. Clin Exp Rheumatol. Published 23 February 2026. doi:10.
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