The effect of chronic prostatitis on male fertility has been a controversial topic. Some scholars believe that chronic prostatitis has no adverse effect on sperm quality or male fertility. However, some studies have found that chronic prostatitis can lead to a decrease in semen quality including sperm density and viability. So, will chronic prostatitis cause a decrease in semen quality or even male infertility? How is semen produced? The semen consists of sperm and seminal plasma. The sperm is produced in the testicles, while the seminal plasma is mainly composed of fluid secreted by the seminal vesicles and prostate gland. On the surface, the site of sperm production (the testes) is far from the prostate gland, so chronic prostatitis does not seem to adversely affect sperm quality. However, chronic prostatitis can lead to abnormalities in semen properties and seminal plasma composition, which may have an impact on semen quality and fertility. Semen liquefaction and non-liquefaction When semen is first ejected from the body, it immediately solidifies into jelly, and then liquefies into a watery liquid in about 5 to 25 minutes, a process called semen liquefaction. If the semen does not liquefy in more than one hour, it is called non-liquefaction of semen. It is mainly related to the prostate gland, especially to prostatitis. Some of the patients with chronic prostatitis whose semen does not liquefy have a significant increase in fertility after treatment of prostatitis and liquefaction of semen. Other effects In addition to the above factors, the following aspects can also affect fertility: ① Affect sperm passage through the vas deferens: The pathogenic bacteria of chronic bacterial prostatitis can inhibit sperm viability. In addition, chronic bacterial prostatitis is often accompanied by chronic epididymitis or chronic inflammation of the vas deferens. Long-term chronic inflammation can lead to fibrous scarring, partial or complete obstruction of the vas deferens, resulting in oligospermia or even obstructive azoospermia. ② The role of reactive oxygen species: In recent years, studies have found that reactive oxygen species in the semen of patients with chronic prostatitis are significantly increased, which can lead to a decrease in sperm vitality, as well as a decrease in the ability of sperm to enter the egg. ③ Immunological infertility: This is an important cause of male infertility. The presence of antisperm antibodies in the seminal plasma can affect sperm viability, the fertilization process and embryo implantation. Chronic prostatitis can induce the production of anti-sperm antibodies. Conclusion: Prostatitis does not necessarily affect fertility Fertility is a complex process that involves multiple components. Although chronic prostatitis can cause impairment of semen quality through the above pathways or mechanisms, it should be noted that patients with chronic prostatitis do not necessarily exhibit infertility due to the strong compensatory capacity of male fertility; whether chronic prostatitis affects semen quality or fertility needs to be analyzed individually for different patients. The actual fact is that there are many factors that affect fertility, and sometimes multiple factors exist at the same time, so the impact of chronic prostatitis on fertility needs to be analyzed specifically for different patients. The actual fact is that you can find a lot of people who are not able to get a good deal on a lot of things. If unsuccessful, it is recommended to actively treat prostatitis and also to actively look for other factors that cause infertility. Hot water sitz bath is one of the methods to treat chronic prostatitis, but for infertile youth, hot water sitz bath is not recommended to avoid damage to semen quality.