Male Fertility

Question

Is there a surgical treatment that restores the function of the vas deferens in a man suffering from infertility due to cystic fibrosis?

Answer

Dear questioner,

You raise a very relevant issue. Indeed, thanks to advances in medicine and care, more CF patients now want to start a family.

Men with CF have a normal sexual function but most of them (95 to 98% estimated) are infertile. The testicles are normal and produce sperm, but an absence or atrophy of the vas deferens does not allow the sperm to reach the urethra. It is therefore infertility (inability to procreate, in this case solutions can be offered), not sterility (total inability to procreate).

In recent years, the Medically Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) offers new opportunities.

The vas deferens can not be restored. However, spermatozoa are still produced in the testicles, so microsurgical interventions help to withdraw them directly from the testicles or the head of the epididymis (the sperm storage area on the side of the testicles). IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) is then performed with ICSI (Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection = technique of taking one spermatozoon and injecting it directly into the egg, using a micropipette).

You could find more information about these techniques, but also other opportunities for couples affected by cystic fibrosis, consulting those sources [in French, as this Q/A was posted on the French site]:
 brochure published by “Vaincre La Mucoviscidose” (www.vaincrelamuco.org/e_upload/pdf/guide_assistance_medicale_procreation_2008.pdf)
 website "Assisted reproduction" of the Biomedicine Agency (www.procreationmedicale.fr/)


Also, if you (or your partner) are followed in a CF Centre, you could additionally talk with members of the team: most now have substantial experience in the management of reproductive problems for men and women with cystic fibrosis.

Hoping to have answered your question.
Sincerely,
Laetitia Guéganton

19.06.2013