Older men often less fertile than younger men

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Hamburg - More and more older men are trying to become fathers and discovering that it's not as easily achieved as it is in youth.

Usually the man's entire lifestyle comes into question when fertility is impaired, said Hermann Behre of the university centre for reproductive medicine and andrology in Halle, Germany.

Smoking can have a negative effect on men advancing in age. Poor diet and lack of exercise also play a role. In addition, men who are overweight have a tendency toward diabetes and a reduction in the male hormone, said Behre.

Infertility in men can also be the first sign of a serious illness. Erectile dysfunction, for example, can indicate cardiovascular disease.

It's also a fact that lesser male infertility problems often do not regulate themselves in older men as well as they do in younger men. It is estimated that every sixth couple struggles with infertility problems. Source: http://visitbulgaria.info/older-men-often-less-fertile-younger-men

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Science moves closer to infertility cures

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SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 13 (UPI) --U.S. scientists say advances in the analysis of proteins are providing researchers with an expanding understanding of male infertility.

The San Francisco State University researchers say proteins found in sperm are central to understanding male infertility and could be used to determine new diagnostic methods and fertility treatments.

The research by Assistant Professor Diana Chu and post-doctoral fellow Tammy Wu focused on how proteomics -- a relatively new field involving the function of proteins within cells -- can be successfully applied to infertility, helping identify which proteins in sperm cells are dysfunctional.

"Up to 50 percent of male-factor infertility cases in the clinic have no known cause, and therefore no direct treatment," said the scientists. "The ultimate goal is that a doctor could be able to say to a patient, 'this is the protein that is mis-regulated in your sperm and this is the drug that corrects it or decreases the level of that protein.' "

The research appears in the journal Molecular and Cellular Proteomics. Source: http://www.timesoftheinternet.com/10595.html

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Infertility: an overview

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Infertility is something which happens to other people, isn't it? Actually, it's a surprisingly common problem, affecting at least 15 percent of couples.

Among these couples, 40 percent will have a combination of male and female infertility factors, while in only 20 percent will the man be the only partner responsible for infertility. About 40 to 50 percent of all infertility is due to problems experienced by the woman.

What causes infertility?

Continued: http://health.iafrica.com/illness_condition/62712.htm

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Concern over DNA link to fertility risk

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A SHEFFIELD fertility expert says new research which claims millions of men who take antidepressants could damage their sperm and risk infertility is 'of concern.'

The findings suggest that commonly described drugs for depression can break up DNA in sperm.

Outwardly the sperm may appear normal in numbers, shape and swimming ability. But similar levels of DNA fragmentation in sperm are said to have led to fertility and pregnancy problems.

For couples undergoing In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment, fewer embryos form when the man's sperm has damaged DNA, says the Cornell Medical Center in New York City.

Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield, said: "The apparent increase in sperm DNA damage is alarming, although the level at which we think the damage becomes clinically significant is controversial to many scientists.

"It is a shame that the authors appear not to have conducted a randomised controlled trial which would be the most scientific way to investigate the drugs effects, but the results are of concern and need to be investigated."

Source: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Concern-over-DNA-link-to.4529351.jp

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Low Sperm Count May Be Associated with Prenatal Testosterone Excess

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Chevy Chase, MD — Exposure to an excess of sexual steroids, like testosterone, during fetal development may be a potential risk factor for low sperm count and motility, according to a new study accepted for publication in Endocrinology, a journal of The Endocrine Society.

"The majority of disorders affecting sperm count in humans are originated during fetal life" said Professor Sergio Recabarren of the University of Concepcion in Chillan, Chile and lead author of the study. "A developing fetus is very vulnerable to its environment, and when that environment is exposed to excess sexual steroids, it may have a significant deleterious effect on a male offspring’s fertility"

Prenatal exposure to excess sexual steroids can occur in two ways, said Dr. Recabarren. First, the exposure may be a product of increased sexual steroids in the maternal environment due to a hormonal condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Second, humans are exposed to several industrial pollutants which can act as steroid mimics, causing the body to inhibit or accelerate native steroid production.

In this study, researchers treated pregnant sheep with 30 mg testosterone propionate twice weekly from days 30 to 90 of pregnancy and with 40 mg testosterone propionate from days 90 to 120 of pregnancy. They found a significant reduction in body weight, scrotal circumference, and sperm count in male sheep born to these mothers compared with control sheep.

"While this research involved sheep, it can certainly be argued that in humans, exposure to an excess of sexual steroids during fetal development could constitute a potential risk factor that may conduct to a low sperm count" said Dr. Recabarren.

Low sperm counts are also associated with testicular cancer, with an incidence rate 20 fold higher than men with normal sperm analysis, said Dr. Recabarren. The findings from this study highlight growing concerns of the detrimental effects of prenatal steroid excess on reduced sperm counts.

A rapid release version of this article, "Prenatal Testosterone Excess Reduces Sperm Count and Motility" has been published on-line and will appear in the December issue of Endocrinology.

Source: http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=75681

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Mobile phones kill sperm

SPERM HAS YET another enemy – this time it’s none other than your trusty device, the mobile phone.

That’s right, the Cleveland Clinic is now saying that keeping your mobile phone in talk-mode and in your pocket can decrease sperm quality – if you’re a man of course.

Ashok Agarwal, the Director of the Center for Reproductive Medicine says that, “We believe that these devices are used because we consider them very safe, but it could cause harmful effects due to the proximity of the phones and the exposure that they are causing to the gonads."

Full story: http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/09/22/mobile-phones-spermicides

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Heated car seats reduce fertility, German researchers warn

Hamburg, Germany - Heated car seats reduce fertility in men, according to German researchers.

The researchers at the University of Giessen have discovered that just one hour of sitting in a heated car seat can cause a testicular temperature spike of up to 39.7 Celsius (or 103 Fahrenheit).

That is four or five degrees Celsius higher than the optimum temperature for healthy sperm production, which is around two degrees below the body's core temperature of 37 C (99 F), according to the findings reported in New Scientist magazine.

The German researchers attached heat sensors to the testicles of 30 healthy volunteers, who then sat on heated car seats for a total of 90 minutes.

After one hour, the test revealed the average testicular temperature to be 37.3 C (99.5 F), which is around two degrees above optimum for sperm production, while one test subject experienced a 60 minute flush of 39.7 C (103 F).

In terms of the rate of testicle warmth attributed to men who do not use heated car seat technology, the study revealed average scrotal temperature to be 36.7 C (98 F).

According to study leader, Andreas Jung and his university team, only a slight increase in testicle temperature - as shown by the research figures - is enough to have a potentially detrimental effect on healthy sperm production.

Source: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/health/news/article_1432258.php/Heated_car_seats_reduce_fertility_German_researchers_warn_

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IVF success rates: sperm competition may be key

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There have been numerous studies on both human and animal sexual behavior to help understand the fertilization process, and how to stimulate the production of large amounts of healthier sperm. One of the most common areas of study is sperm competition.

According to author G.A. Parker, if more than one male's sperm occupies the same female, sperm competition will occur. Based on certain circumstances and situations, males in various species have been known to tailor their ejaculations so that they can compete with other males.

Think of it as a lottery. The more tickets you buy, the greater your chance of winning.

First off, take into consideration the meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus), which is a small rodent that can be found in North America. According to Drs. Janier delBarco, and Trillo & Michael H. Ferkinthis, the meadow vole or field mouse is significant because if it detects other males in the area where it is having intercourse, it will produce much more sperm than if other males were not present.

Full story: http://media.www.wilkesbeacon.com/media/storage/paper533/news/2008/09/14/Opinion/Ivf-Success.Rates.Sperm.Competition.May.Be.Key-3426074.shtml

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Diabetes may lower testosterone

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Many young men with Type 2 diabetes have abnormally low levels of testosterone, new research shows.

Their lack of the hormone may have "profound" implications for their sexual and reproductive health, Dr Paresh Dandona of the State University of New York at Buffalo and his colleagues warn. "Whatever else is happening with diabetes and heart disease ... gross sexual dysfunction and infertility could be part of the story," Dandona told Reuters Health.

Full story: http://www.health24.com/news/Diabetes/1-904,47908.asp

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Researchers develop simple treatment for male infertility

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Infertile men can have a fair chance to be fertile by simply going through a painless invasive treatment that can significantly improve a couple's chance for pregnancy.

For this treatment, instead of going through an open surgery, which was the only known method yet, the patient will go through a retrograde venous embolization - a simple treatment that uses a catheter through the groin.

The treatment can help to improve sperm function in infertile men. The researchers also found that success of the treatment can also be predicted by the level of sperm motility.

Full Story: http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/8241

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Soy foods 'reduce sperm numbers'

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A regular diet of even modest amounts of food containing soy may halve sperm concentrations, suggest scientists.

The study, published in the journal Human Reproduction, found 41 million fewer sperm per millilitre of semen after just one portion every two days.

The authors said plant oestrogens in foods such as tofu, soy mince or milk may interfere with hormonal signals.

SEE ALSO
Being too fat 'can damage sperm' 09 Jul 08 Health
Paint chemicals 'may harm sperm' 23 May 08 Health
Coffee 'worsens poor fertility' 07 Jul 08 Health

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
British Fertility Society
Harvard School of Public Health
Human Reproduction

Full story: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7519459.stm

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Pregnancy is predictable: a large-scale prospective

Pregnancy is predictable: a large-scale prospective external validation of the prediction of spontaneous pregnancy in subfertile couples.

BACKGROUND: Prediction models for spontaneous pregnancy may be useful tools to select subfertile couples that have good fertility prospects and should therefore be counselled for expectant management. We assessed the accuracy of a recently published prediction model for spontaneous pregnancy in a large prospective validation study.

METHODS: In 38 centres, we studied a consecutive cohort of subfertile couples, referred for an infertility work-up. Patients had a regular menstrual cycle, patent tubes and a total motile sperm count (TMC) less than 3 x 10(6). After the infertility work-up had been completed, we used a prediction model to calculate the chance of a spontaneous ongoing pregnancy ( www.freya.nl/probability.php ).

The primary end-point was time until the occurrence of a spontaneous ongoing pregnancy within 1 year. The performance of the pregnancy prediction model was assessed with calibration, which is the comparison of predicted and observed ongoing pregnancy rates for groups of patients and discrimination.

CONCLUSIONS: As the chance of a spontaneous ongoing pregnancy among subfertile couples can be accurately calculated, this prediction model can be used as an essential tool for clinical decision-making and in counselling patients. The use of the prediction model may help to prevent unnecessary treatment.

Full article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16997935

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Do older men make better dads?

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Despite the higher risk of baby fathered by an older man having autism or Down's Syndrome, older fathers may well be better for their offspring than their younger counterparts.

'What's it like, then?" people have been asking me a lot recently, usually with a peculiar lop-sided grin on their faces. "What's what like?" I reply, staring at them as blankly as possible.

A look of mild embarrassment comes over all but the thickest skinned of them, and they drop their voices down to a tactful mumble. "Well, you know… being an older dad."

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2130834/Do-older-men-make-better-dads.html

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Is caffeine is bad fertility wise for men?

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Found today on the Women Over 40 with High FSH board:

Caffeine damages sperm DNA, study shows...2006
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10408327

Caffiene is good for men, not women.
Caffeine perks up sperm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/4480.php

Caffeine and a man's fertility - Ask the experts:

answers to your questions from the Leaders in Natural Medicine
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NAH/is_7_33/ai_107637368

Coffee drinkers listen up
Coffee makes sperm go faster, reveals a new study by Brazilian scientists. They suggest caffeine could form the basis male infertility treatment for some men.

Fabio Pasqualotto and colleagues at the University of Sao Paulo tested sperm quality in 750 men who ranged from those who never drink the brew to coffee aficionados.

Sperm motility, sperm concentration and the levels of hormones were all the same for mild, moderate and heavy coffee drinkers. "However, sperm motility was higher in patients who drink coffee compared those who do not," says the team, which presented their work at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine meeting in San Antonio, Texas, US.
http://www.4-men.org/caffeine-effects-on-sperm.html

Source: http://www.network54.com/Forum/53068/message/1214531195/I+say+yes%2C+here%27+s+some+research+to+help+you+out

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Twins - 22 years after he had a vasectomy

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A 50-year-old man, who had a vasectomy 22 years ago, has become a proud father of twins after a miraculous treatment at a British fertility clinic.

Steven Richardson lost his hopes to have kids with second wife Carol after a reverse snip op failed.

But the couple became parents to twins Annie and William, thanks to Indian-origin medic Dr Rashmi Patel, at the Manchester CARE fertility clinic, who tried an op called ICSI, or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection.

Full story: http://www.thecheers.org/news/World-news/news_28520_Man-has-miracle-twins---22-years-after-he-had-a-vasectomy.html

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Fertility Specialists Decry Men's Reluctance to Seek Infertility Treatment

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Nearly half of the 300 survey respondents said it was only after constant pressure that their husbands were willing to seek medical consultation, and 42 percent said their husbands simply were not comfortable talking to a doctor about their possible infertility, taking the position that they were "not meant to have children."

Male infertility affects approximately one in twenty men in the United States, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Why the apprehension to confront male infertility? Men's reluctance to seek infertility treatment is a challenge to fertility experts in the IntegraMed network, who suggest some men associate their sense of masculinity with the ability to conceive a child. Though cultural associations of masculinity and fertility are slowly changing, men's resistance to address the issue can hinder both diagnosis and timely treatment.

Full story: http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/fertility-specialists-decry-mens-reluctance-seek-infertility-treatment/

A media backgrounder about the top 10 myths about male infertility is available online at http://www.integramed.com/inmdweb/content/cons/conceptions/male- infertility_10myths.jsp

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Male fertility pill to boost conception

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A new pill specially formulated to increase male fertility has been developed in a move that could see fewer couples relying on assisted reproductive technologies to conceive, a local fertility expert says.

Medical director of Hollywood Fertility Centre Simon Turner said 50 per cent of the patients visiting his IVF program had a male factor contributing to infertility.