Researchers Focus on Singling Out Possible Causes of Male Infertility

Public awareness of fertility problems has increased considerably in recent years, as many couples who have been unable to conceive naturally have begun to publicly share their stories through the media, books, interviews, articles, and blogs. In the past, it was often assumed that healthy men and women should be able to achieve conception. Today, however, there is a growing understanding that the reality of conception, pregnancy, and childbirth is often much more complex than that.

The mystery of male infertility is another part of the infertility puzzle that scientists have begun to focus on in recent years. While it was once assumed that most problems conceiving originated with the female partner, it is now recognized that as many as 40% to 50% of all fertility problems can be traced to the male partner. This week, we will take a look at several recent studies that have shed more light on the issue of male infertility.

Defective Protein May Be Responsible for Most Cases of Male Infertility

Researchers in China have identified a single protein that could play a major role in causing male infertility. The protein, known as the epithelial ion channel, plays a role in transporting bicarbonate, a chemical compound that must be present in order to allow fertilization to occur. Report confirms previous studies that have singled out this same protein as a possible cause of female infertility.

Because the protein defect had not yet been identified in male sperm samples before, it has not been established as a standard diagnosis or potential cause for male infertility. However, now that the problem has been described in the scientific literature, the researchers expect that this protein defect may rapidly become established as one of the leading causes of otherwise-unexplained male infertility.

Preliminary analyses suggest that the protein defect may be found in a majority of infertile men. However, at the current juncture, scientists do not know what causes the defect to occur. As such, it appears that the hope for a cure for this defect may be limited.

Men Who Have Been Treated for Autoimmune Disorder At Greater Risk for Infertility

Researchers in Brazil found that several types of sperm defects were much more common in populations of men who had received treatment for the autoimmune disorder systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly known as lupus. Particularly, the study found that men who had received intravenous cyclophosphamide treatment after puberty were at greatest risk of later experiencing problems impregnating a female partner.

The researchers identified several different problems that were found in the sperm samples of men who had received past treatment for lupus. These men were found to have lower sperm volume, lower sperm motility, and lower sperm counts than their counterparts who had not received the treatment. The patients who had received treatment for longer than five years showed the most pronounced defects.

Overall, only 20% of the men studied had successfully fathered biological children, as compared to 85% of the healthy men who comprised the control group in the study. According to the authors, these findings may have implications for selecting the best course of treatment for men with lupus, depending on their plans for starting a family.

Men Conceived With Fertility Treatment Less Fertile, Study Finds

A study conducted by scientists in Copenhagen, Denmark indicates that men who were themselves conceived by parents who were being treated for infertility also stand a much greater risk of facing infertility. Of the men who responded that their mothers or fathers had received treatment for infertility before conceiving them, it was found that several factors impacting fertility were more pronounced than among those men who stated that their parents had used no fertility treatment.

The men whose parents had been treated for fertility problems were found to have lower sperm concentration, lower sperm counts, less sperm motility, and more deformed or defective sperm. The men in this group were also found to have smaller testes than their counterparts whose parents had received no fertility treatment.

The link between parents who received fertility treatments and diminished fertility in male adult children was not explained by the study. However, these findings call into question the possibility that some forms of infertility not previously expected may be passed on genetically.

If you are experiencing difficulty conceiving, consult with a licensed medical professional to develop an effective fertility treatment plan. Check back each week for more of the latest science news that impacts your health!