View clinical trials related to Male Infertility.
Filter by:Old age, physical inactivity, environmental factors and genetics may contribute negatively to fertility in both males and females. In males, specifically, certain supplements, such as single antioxidants and trace minerals, have previously been shown to improve sperm function marginally. One hypothesis is that sperm function can be improved even further by combining several different types of supplements (e.g., amino acids, energy carriers, vitamins, antioxidants, and trace minerals) to target several age-related cell pathways, for example, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation and cell energetics. This 3-month placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, aims to test the effects of a novel multi-ingredient supplement (Fertility Enhancer) that targets several age-related cell pathways on sperm function in subfertile males.
Male infertility affects millions of males worldwide and is rising in prevalence due to social and environmental conditions. Asthenozoospermia (AZS) and oligoasthenozoospermia (OA) are the major causes of male infertility. The diagnosis of male infertility has a negative effect on men's physical and psychological status, poses a threat to their social relationships, lowers self-esteem, and disrupts family harmony. At present, the treatment of ASZ and OA are all mostly empirical, including antioxidants, endocrine therapy, and anti-infection. However, there are still limitations due to inefficiencies. Linggui Yangyuan paste (LGYY), a traditional Chinese compound herbal past, had been used to treat ASZ and OA for several years at the Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. The investigators designed this program to study the efficacy and safety of LGYY for the treatment of patients with male infertility (AZS and OA).
Although much is known about the microenvironment of the gut and the vagina, very little has been published on the microenvironment of the seminal plasma. The seminal plasma is the support fluid for sperm, providing nutrients, facilitating sperm transit to the uterus, and promoting fertilization. It is a rich area of research for markers of fertility and treatment targets. The investigators hypothesize that (1) there are significant populations of seminal microorganisms associated with seminal leukocyte counts well below the WHO's cutoff for pyospermia (1 million/mL) that were not previously detected by traditional culturing methods, and (2) there are pathologic populations of bacteria within the gut and semen microbiome which negatively impact overall fertility, by directly or indirectly impairing hormone status. Participants will be recruited from the Male Fertility practice at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC). All participants will have infertility, diagnosed as an inability to conceive pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected intercourse. The normal evaluation of these participants is to obtain at least one semen analysis and bloodwork investigating their endocrine profile: total testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and albumin. Semen volume is typically >1 mL, and <0.2 mL is typically used for the semen analysis. If over 1 million/mL round cells are identified, then a Papanicolaou stain would be performed to identify leukocytes. In this study, any semen demonstrated to have round cells would undergo Papanicolaou staining. A portion of the remaining semen, which would typically be discarded, will be sent for microbiome analysis. Secondly, as part of routine care, fertility patients may be started on medications to increase endogenous testosterone (i.e.: clomiphene citrate, anastrozole, etc). Participants started on medications will also be asked to submit a rectal swab for gut microbiome analysis. Routine care is to monitor the hormonal and testicular response with periodic endocrine blood panels and semen analyses; rectal swabs will be requested at these follow-up intervals also. The control group for both hypotheses will be men with clinical infertility with normal semen analyses and hormone profiles.
Normal testicular hormonal and spermatogenic function depends not only on the testis itself, but also on the integrity of the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary. Systemic diseases has been shown to influence male gonadal function in variety of ways, leading to reduced libido, erectile impotence, infertility, osteoporosis, and decreased physical stamina and muscle mass. The effect of systemic diseases may occur directly at the testicular level: reduced Leydig cell function will lead to androgen deficiency, while diseases affecting Spermatogenesis may lead to infertility. Alternatively, acute and chronic illness may interfere with the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and lead to reduced testicular function.
- Infertility is defined as the inability of a sexually active couple to conceive after 1 year of regular intercourse without contraception, affects approximately 15% of couples, and male factors are the cause in 20% -50% of cases. - Infertility of unknown origin is classified into idiopathic male infertility and unexplained male infertility according to semen quality.
The purpose of this experiment is to test the feasibility of a minimally interventionist protocol for young couples with male factor infertility, which addresses the cause of infertility for these couples which is the inability of the sperm to fertilize the egg.Ultrasound monitoring of natural follicular development utilizing rFSH, GnRH antagonist and rHCG only for the final maturation. Single follicle aspiration and IUI or IVF/ICSI based on sperm charcteristics on the day of fertilization. Fertilized eggs transfered to the uterus on the same day as the aspiration.