Semen from 16 HIV1-infected african individuals (12 at stage II/CDC; 4 with pre-AIDS) has been analyzed both quantitatively (volume; number of spermatozoa) and qualitatively (motility). 12 healthy HIV1-seronegative individuals were recruited as controls. The HIV1-infected patients showed generally abnormalities of the semen: oligospermia (7 cases), azoospermia (3 cases), or asthenospermia (10 cases). These abnormalities were more marked in patients at advanced stages of the HIV infection. In comparison with the control group, the HIV1-infected individuals had more frequently a past history of sexually transmitted diseases. These abnormalities in the composition of the semen in HIV1-infected african individuals could affect the fertility of these men; that could indirectly restrict the risk of congenitally HIV contaminated child.