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Family Health: Researchers Uncover New Information About Male Infertility
July 22nd, 2011
Photography ©iStock
Deciding to have a baby—whether your first, third or fifth—can be such a wonderful time in a couple’s life. But when pregnancy doesn’t come easy, it can lead to feelings of stress and frustration. According to Assisted Human Reproduction Canada, an estimated 8.5 percent of Canadian couples who are of reproductive age will experience infertility. But new research out of Simon Fraser University could give new hope to couples experiencing reproductive challenges. Researchers have recently discovered that male infertility may be caused by a genetic mutation that affects sperm, according to a report from ParentCentral.ca.
The study—published in Science Translational Magazine—found that a genetic mutation is the likely culprit behind many cases of unexplained male infertility. This variation affects the coating on the surface of sperm, making it difficult for the sperm to penetrate a woman’s cervical mucus and join with an egg.
“Infertility in many countries around the world occurs in 13 to 14 percent of couples,” said Scott Venners, an epidemiologist at Simon Fraser University, in a news release. “In about half of infertile couples, the identified cause of infertility lies with the male partner. However, infertility is still unexplained in about 17 percent of infertile couples and we think that our finding might explain some of these cases.”
While this finding is certainly not a cure for infertility, it does lead to a better understanding of why infertility can happen, and may also lead to new options in fertility treatments in the future.
For more information about dealing with infertility and what you can do to help nature along, read our article about when your next pregnancy doesn’t come easy.
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