Men conceived by IVF 'may inherit sperm problems'

Conclusion This small cross-sectional study aimed to assess the semen quality of young men who were conceived by ICSI. The study found that when compared with men conceived naturally, men conceived by ICSI had a lower average sperm concentration, total sperm count, and total motile sperm count. This effect remained after the team adjusted for potential confounders. This finding supports concerns that the infertility of a father could be passed on to male offspring, but does not prove it. The study does not rule in or out the possibility of the difference being a result of the ICSI procedure itself or an unrelated issue.  This research has limitations that should be mentioned: These findings are based on a very small study population, and the same effect may not have been seen in a larger study. Of all the men conceived by ICSI invited to take part in the study, only 37.5% agreed. The researchers have provided a breakdown of those who declined, but it is possible that the 45 men and 21 families that declined did so because the young men do not have fertility issues and this would greatly alter the result. A number of confounders have been considered in the analysis. However, there is still a chance of residual confounding in the model or that important factors were not addressed. The samples were only provided on one occasion so may not be an accurate representation. There are too many limitations to draw any firm conclusions from this research. Simple ...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pregnancy/child Medical practice Source Type: news