In couples who face fertility problems, the problem is linked to the potential father in about 40 per cent of cases. In roughly a quarter of cases, a specific cause is unknown.
Previous research has linked causes of male infertility to paternal exposures, which are explained as anything the is exposed to around the time of his partner’s pregnancy. These can include occupational factors like being in the presence of chemicals such as heavy metals, solvents or welding fumes.
Physical agents such as heat, vibration, extremes in temperature, and pressure can also affect male fertility. It is also known that radiation and electromagnetic radiation coming from equipment such as mobile phones has an impact, while male infertility is yet another of the negative health implications related to smoking cigarettes.
According to Professor of Paediatrics and Director of the California Teratogen Information Service (CTIS) at University of California San Diego US, Dr Christina Chambers, such exposures may affect a man’s ability to father a child by changing the size or shape of sperm, the number of sperm produced or how the sperm work.
Pinpointing the exact cause of infertility can be difficult and now a new test that diminishes the need for knowing the cause promises to direct couples down the avenue most likely to result in fertility.
Known as the “SpermComet”, the test resulted from more than 10 years research at the Reproductive Medicine Centre Queen’s University Belfast.
According to the study authors, the SpermComet provides unique information that no other test offers. By measuring damaged DNA in individual sperm, it can predict the success of infertility treatments and fast-track couples to the treatment most likely to succeed, leading to significantly reduced waiting times and improved chances of conception, the research states.
The test for male infertility has been hailed as “groundbreaking” as it will save time, money and stress for couples around the world.
“Traditionally, fertility clinics evaluate a man’s sperm by looking at number, motility and shape under a microscope. The problem with these observations is that they cannot determine exactly how healthy these sperm are,” according to the authors.
This new test checks for tiny tears and breaks in the sperm’s DNA. Using chemicals, the tightly coiled DNA strands of each sperm are relaxed and then separated using an electric field. Undamaged DNA will then bunch together and shine brightly while damaged DNA fans out and glows weakly.
Under a microscope this looks like the head and tail of a comet, hence the test’s name. By measuring the length of the tail, the scientist can assess the health of the man’s sperm. Professor Sheena Lewis, leader of the Reproductive Medicine Research Group at Queen’s University, said: “One-in-six couples has difficulty in having a family. In 40 per cent of cases, the problems are related to the man.”
“Until now, there have been few accurate ways of measuring a man’s fertility. Traditionally, the diagnosis of male infertility has relied on semen analysis. This provides the basic information on which fertility specialists base their initial diagnosis. However, its clinical value in predicting male fertility or success with infertility treatment is limited, particularly if the semen analysis results are normal,” she continued.
Professor Lewis added, “The head of the ‘comet’ is undamaged DNA and the tail is damaged DNA.”
“From the tail of the comet we can measure exactly the amount of damaged DNA in each individual sperm. Good quality sperm DNA is closely associated with getting pregnant and having a healthy baby, and the SpermComet test is the most sensitive test available for sperm DNA testing,” she said.
Professor Lewis, in partnership with Queen’s investment vehicle, QUBIS, has now set up a new company to market the test, which is already available through a number of fertility clinics in Glasgow, Dublin and Galway.
QUBIS Chief Executive Mr Panos Lioulias recently highlighted that since the number of infertile couples across Europe continues to increase by around five per cent each year, the need for such a test has never been greater.
“The SpermComet is the most sensitive test available to help clinics tailor treatment specifically to the man’s needs, bringing hope to millions of couples across the globe,” he said. The test costs around £600.
Couples who can be helped with the new test include those diagnosed with unexplained infertility, those who have had unsuccessful infertility treatment, couples with a history of spontaneous miscarriage and men who have had an abnormal semen analysis.
Furthermore, men who can benefit from using the development are those over 40 years of age, men who have been treated for cancer, men exposed to occupational or environmental hazards and men who have recurrent infections.
“Men with over 25 per cent sperm DNA damage have a high risk of infertility and are less likely to get their partners pregnant naturally. Those with between 26 to 49 per cent sperm DNA damage have a high chance of success with IVF,” said Professor Lewis.
“Those with over 50 per cent damage have a high risk of failure using IVF, while intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is more likely to be successful than IVF if sperm DNA damage is above this value.”
As it reportedly offers quick results and is relatively affordable, the test may have major implications for couples around the world.
