Active clinical trials for "Infertility, Male"

In vivo, the zona pellucida (ZP) of the oocyte can bind to normally functional sperm. The ZP-sperm interaction is one of the final steps of natural selection during their journey in the female reproductive tract. In the current study, we evaluated the ability of the ZP of immature oocytes to harvest the fittest sperm. We compared the embryological outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using conventionally selected sperm (control group) and ZP-bound sperm (intervention group). Our results showed no statistically significant superiority for the ZP binding technique over the conventional sperm selection with respect to the rates of fertilization and cleavage. However; the rates of blastocyst formation and high-quality blastocysts were significantly improved in the intervention group compare to the control group. These findings imply that the proposed technique can serve as a cost-effective and natural sperm selection method that has the potential to enhance the embryological and clinical outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

In assisted reproductive technology (ART) semen needs to be processed. Commonly used methods rely on physical properties of the spermatozoa, such as the swim-up methods and density gradient centrifugation. It is now known that current processing of spermatozoa does not prevent the admixture of spermatozoa with damaged genetic material. The latter have a negative impact on the outcome of ART. The investigators developed a new method for the processing of spermatozoa with intact genetic material based on flow cytometry and sorting (FACS) and on staining using a deye, YoPro. The investigators aim at examining the effect of this novel method of sperm sorting on the outcome of ART.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether expressive writing can be effective in improving the well-being and sperm quality in patients with male infertility.

Spermatozoa are vulnerable to lack of energy and oxidative stress as a result of elevated levels of reactive oxygen species. Therefore, it is essential that appropriate nutrients are available during maturation. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated the effect of 6 months supplementation with carnitines and other micronutrients on sperm quality in 104 subjects with oligo- and/or astheno- and/or teratozoospermia with or without varicocele. Semen analyses were done at the beginning and end of the treatment. In addition to main analyses, post-hoc analyses for age and body mass index (BMI) were carried out. Results were interpreted by dividing the population into two age and BMI classes.

Microfluidic chips are one of the methods of sperm separation to eliminate DNA fragmentation in sperm. It is thought that the separation of sperm by centrifugation in the classical gradient density (Percoll) method used in sperm separation in IVF (in vitro fertilization) laboratories leads to the increase of reactive oxygen radicals in sperm and this leads to sperm DNA fragmentation. Studies comparing Percoll and microfluidic chip method in terms of sperm, embryo quality and pregnancy rates are limited. In this context, it is aimed to investigate the effect of Percoll or Microfluidic Chip Technology on the quality of sperms and embryos obtained with these sperms and their pregnancy rates prospectively.

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.

Men with infertility and normal hormone levels have few options for fertility treatment. Previous research suggests that men with infertility may have low levels of the active form of Vitamin A, called retinoic acid, in their testes. In a pilot study of 20 men with low numbers of sperm (<10 million motile sperm), roughly half the men showed improvement in sperm production. Thus, we want to see if retinoic acid administration to men with azoospermia (no sperm present) can initiate sperm production.

To compare the acceptance, safety, and efficacy of needle-free jet anaesthetic technique (MadaJet) versus needle injection for sperm retrieval in patients with azoospermia.

A male factor is responsible for almost half the cases of subfertility. Varicocele is a major cause of impaired spermatogenesis and potentially a correctable cause. It affects up to 40% of men with primary subfertility and 80% of men with secondary subfertility. Varicocelectomy is now accepted as a cost effective treatment in subfertile men with clinically palpable varicocele and impaired semen parameters. Recently, Varicocelectomy is reported to improve fertility potential in patients with severe oligozoospermia. In one such study, Varicocelectomy was associated with a statistically significant increase in sperm density and motility. Spontaneous pregnancy was achieved in16.7% of cases. In a recent meta-analysis, Varicocelectomy in men with severe oligozoospermia showed a strong trend toward improvement in pregnancy rate (PR) [OR= 1.69, 95% CI (0.951, 3.020), p= 0.073] and statistically significant increase in live birth rate (LBR)[OR=1.699, 95%CI (1.020, 2.831), p= 0.04]. The impact of ligation of internal spermatic artery (ISA) during Varicocelectomy is a matter of debate. Conventional view is arterial ligation can negatively affect testicular function and decrease the likelihood of post-operative paternity. Other investigators reported that ligation of ISA was not associated with significant changes in postoperative semen parameters, testicular size or PR in comparison to artery preservation. Moreover, laparoscopic artery-ligating Varicocelectomy was proved to be superior in the form of shorter operative time and lower recurrence rates with no difference in semen parameters or PR in comparison to laparoscopic artery-preservation varicocelectomy. Also, isolation of ISA is not an easy task during subinguinal Varicocelectomy due to compression by external oblique aponeurosis and its inherent anatomical variation. In 29 % and 57% of the cases, the ISA is surrounded by the varicose vessels and adherent to the veins respectively. Thus, the ISA is liable to a substantial risk of accidental ligation during subinguinal Varicocelectomy. Whether or not ligation of the ISA has a deleterious effect on the fertility outcomes in patients with severe oligozoospermia; this is not clear in the literature. This prospective randomized study was conducted to assess the impact of ISA ligation during subinguinal Varicocelectomy on fertility outcome in patients with severe oligozoospermia.

CONDITION: Idiopathic male infertility In men with idiopathic infertility, the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) within 12 weeks of FSH therapy and 12 weeks follow-up improves depending on the FSHR genotype as assessed by the non-synonymous SNP rs6166 (wild type or p.N680S). This is a phase II b, multicenter, prospective, open label, one arm, clinical trial stratified according to the patient's genotype. INTERVENTION: FSH therapy (150 I.U. sc every other day for 12 weeks) in infertile men who are homozygous for the wild-type FSHR or the p.N680S allele of the FSHR. Duration of intervention per patient: 12 weeks Primary efficacy endpoint: Sperm DFI. Number of patients with an improvement in DFI > 60% Key secondary endpoint(s): pregnancy, semen parameters, serum levels of inhibin B and AMH.