View clinical trials related to Male Infertility.
Filter by:The proposed study is designed to test the following hypotheses: 1. Mouse autosomal or X-linked genes which are exclusively expressed in mouse spermatogonia are also spermatogonia-specific in human. 2. Severe spermatogenic defect, especially hypospermatogenesis or SCOS, is caused by an intrinsic defect in germ line stem cell or speramtogenia. 3. Spermatogonia-specific genes are caudate genes for human spermatogenic defect, especially for hypospermatogenesis or SCOS. 4. For a significant fraction of cases with severe spermatogenic defect, the sterile genes are transmitted via multifactorial inheritance mode. 5. For some cases with severe spermatogenic defect, mutations of spermatogonia- specific genes may be transmitted in the X-linked recessive, autosomal recessive, or autosomal dominant mode.
Sperm analysis following World Health Organization guidelines is unable to explain the molecular causes of male infertility when basic sperm parameters are within a normal range and women do not present gynaecological pathology. Subsequently, there is a need for accurate diagnostic tools in this sense and microarray technology applied to sperm analysis emerges as a promising field
This study is being conducted at the University Hospital of Lund University in Malmo, Sweden, in collaboration with the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. The study will try to identify genetic causes of impaired sperm production and male infertility. It will focus on the possible role of the MTHFR and CBS genes, which regulate absorption and metabolism of the vitamin, folate in infertility. If the nutritional intake or metabolism of this vitamin is related to male infertility, then this cause of infertility would be potentially curable. Fertile and infertile men between 20 and 45 years of age may be eligible for this study. Criteria include the following: - Fertile men: men whose partners are younger than age 40 and are attending Lund University prenatal clinic; who have fathered one or more pregnancies and who stopped birth control to achieve the present pregnancy; who achieved the present pregnancy in less than 12 months of unprotected intercourse. - Infertile men: men referred to the Scandian Andrology Centre whose infertility is unexplained, whose partners are younger than age 40 and who have had regular sexual intercourse without contraception for at least 12 months without achieving a pregnancy. All participants will have the following tests and procedures: - Complete a questionnaire providing information about their reproductive and medical history and recent dietary history; - Provide blood samples for analysis of red cell folate, plasma folate, plasma homocysteine, plasma B12, and for genetic evaluation; - Provide a semen sample for routine analysis, including volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, and sperm morphology. In addition, infertile men will undergo a physical examination and review of their medical records.
Background: The number of multiple pregnancies is considered to be the most important adverse effect of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). IVF or ICSI with transferring only one embryo, elective single embryo transfer (eSET), will reduce this incidence remarkably. Unfortunately, former research has documented that cycles with SET maintain lower pregnancy rates compared to double embryo transfer (DET). Implementation of eSET will require a carefully chosen and thoroughly defined implementation strategy focussed on the couple undergoing the subfertility treatment. This trial will investigate the (cost)effectiveness of a combined patient centred implementation strategy. Objective: The main aim is to compare the effectiveness and costs of implementation of elective single embryo transfer (eSET) in in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), between usual care and a combined patient-centred strategy. Study design: A randomised controlled trial Study population: Couples with a female age less than 40 years ongoing an IVF/ICSI treatment in 2 of the 13 Dutch IVF centres and their 4 satellite/transport centres. Intervention A combined patient centred implementation strategy for eSET in IVF/ICSI. The strategy consists of counselling through an evidence based decision aid and reimbursement of a 4th cycle if couples have chosen for eSET in the first 2 cycles. Primary study parameters/outcome of the study: the eSET occurrence rate, pregnancy outcomes and cost-effectiveness of the combined strategy. Secondary study parameters/outcome of the study: - patient knowledge - patient decisional conflict - patient satisfaction - IVF/ICSI treatment outcome.
The goal of this study is to determine whether there is a correlation between the levels of Vitamin E in sperm and sperm DNA fragmentation. Previous research has shown that damage to the DNA in sperm may cause infertility or increase the chances of miscarriage, if the damage is extensive (eg. present in the overwhelming majority of sperm). Some studies suggest that DNA damage can be caused by oxidative stress. Antioxidants, such as Vitamin E, which are present in some foods, can prevent damage to cells from "free radicals", which are naturally present by-products of metabolism. We ask whether there is a correlation between sperm DNA damage and Vitamin E
The purpose of this study is to compare two different strategies to implement the existing Guideline programme on Subfertility, as issued by the Dutch Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (NVOG). Therefore, an innovative patient-directed strategy will be compared to a control strategy and effectiveness, costs and feasibility of both strategies will be assessed.
Varicose veins in the scrotum (varicocele) are responsible for >20% of male infertility in the US. Varicocele are associated with decreased sperm number and markedly reduced sperm fertilizing ability. Surgical repair or removal of varicocele restores fertility in only 1/3 of cases. The goal of this study is to identify markers that predict the outcome of variocele correction. This would offer considerable health cost savings. Based on preliminary findings, we will obtain testis biopsies and semen specimens from infertile men with varicocele and prospectively examining the levels of cadmium, a toxic metal, and expression of genes required for normal sperm function. The semen and biopsies will be obtained during clinically dictated procedures. Cadmium and gene expression will be compared with response to varicocele repair (i.e., increased sperm production; pregnancy).
Our data indicate that environmental exposure to the heavy metal lead are more widespread than currently appreciated and that such exposures are associated with the production of human male subfertility. Lead's effects are observed in male partners of infertile couples attending an IVF clinical, in men acting as semen donors in an artificial insemination program and in men representative of the general public. Our goal is to identify the mechanism(s) underlying lead's anti-fertility action.