Many women who test positive for HHV-6A wonder if their partner might carry the virus as well. The answer is: yes, it’s possible—and researchers have already found HHV-6A in semen.
In one study of sperm donors, HHV-6A/B was found in about 13 out of 100 samples. Scientists even discovered that the virus can attach to the acrosome, the very tip of the sperm cell that helps the sperm enter the egg. This means sperm could carry the virus into the uterus during intercourse or fertility treatment.
This does not mean your partner is sick or did anything wrong. HHV-6 viruses are extremely common and usually stay quiet in the body. But if the sperm is carrying HHV-6A into the uterus, it could contribute to infection or inflammation in the uterine lining—making implantation harder.
Some fertility doctors may recommend testing the male partner if:
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You test positive for HHV-6A,
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You have unexplained infertility,
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Or you’ve had repeated failed IUIs or IVFs.
Testing semen for HHV-6A is not yet routine, but it can give helpful clues—especially if both partners might benefit from treatment.
If HHV-6A can be carried by sperm, the next question many couples ask is:
“What did researchers find in women with unexplained infertility?”
Read this article next: “HHV-6A and Failed IVF Cycles.”
References
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Kaspersen MD, et al. Human herpesvirus-6A/B binds to spermatozoa and is the most prevalent herpesvirus in semen from sperm donors. PLOS ONE. 2012.
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Marci R, Gentili V, Bortolotti D, et al. Presence of HHV-6A in endometrial epithelial cells from women with primary unexplained infertility. PLOS ONE. 2016.
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Komaroff AL, Pellett PE. Human Herpesviruses 6 and 7. StatPearls; NCBI Bookshelf. 2021.