The secret life of sperm: may aid contraception and male fertility

Swimming Sperm

Scientists have discovered something about sperm that makes perfect sense: they don’t start swimming until they are closer to the egg.

Because sperm only have limited resources, they need to maximise their chances of fertilising the egg.

Internal pH

University of California researchers have found that sperm increases its internal pH — its acidity or alkalinity — due to pores on its surface that allow it to jettison protons.

Dr Yuriy Kirichok, who led the research, said: “The concentration of protons inside the sperm cell is 1,000 times higher than outside.

“If you just open a pore, protons will go outside – we identify the molecule that lets them out.”

A substance called anandamide, present in the female reproductive tract and in particularly high levels near the egg, seems to be the trigger for this release, which in turn allows the sperm’s tail to begin moving, and the vigorous swimming to begin.

Cannabis

This may also explain why men who regularly use cannabis/marijuana experience greater levels of infertility.

Contraception and Fertility

It seems fair that, as scientists learn more about sperm, it could aid in two ways.

Firstly, it could be used to create effective male contraceptives.

Secondly, it could be another explanation for male infertility. Sperm’s motility is already measured. Research such as this could help to improve motility, or to ensure that sperm doesn’t use up its resources too early.

Dr Allan Pacey, senior lecturer in andrology at the University of Sheffield, said: “Although it seems obvious that sperm have to swim in order to find and fertilise an egg inside the female body, or in the dish during IVF, we are only just uncovering some of the molecular details that the sperm use when swimming”

Via

Study: Infertility negatively affects self-esteem

With results that probably won’t surprise any couple experiencing fertility issues, a new study suggests that infertility seriously affects positive self-esteem.

“Flawed”

In a national survey carried out in the United States, seven out of ten women said that infertility made them feel flawed, while half of all men said they felt inadequate.

Sharing

Six out of ten couples said that they try to hide their fertility troubles from family and friends, while a third admitted their ability to confide in others has decreased since they began trying to get pregnant.

Over half said that it was easier to tell people that they weren’t planning to have children rather than to share the struggles they faced.

Disbelief and Delay

Disbelief is also a common issue, for despite one in eight couples of childbearing age do struggle with fertility problems, two-thirds of those surveyed said that they never thought they’d have difficulty in conceiving.

Over half of the couples said they wish they had started trying sooner, with a staggering nine out of ten respondents already seeking fertility treatment saying this.

Advice

Relationships with family and friends can also suffer, with six out of ten couples admitting to becoming tired of people asking them how the process is going or offering suggestions on how to conceive.

Unsolicited advice — such as being told to “relax”, get more exercise, sleep or a different diet — aggravated many couples.

Intimacy & Sex

Infertility issues seemed to affect intimacy in different ways, though more couples (58%) said it had brought them closer together than hurt (36%). Having said that, men suggested time arguing had increased, while both sexes said stress and tension had increased.

Added to this, 55% said that fertility issues had made sex a physically and emotionally anxious time, while a similar number (53%) said fun and spontaneity had gone, and four out of ten said they felt sexually unattractive.

The survey interviewed 585 people in relationships where conception had been an issue for two or more years. Full results are available at the Plan For Some Day web site.

I can certainly vouch for a lot of the results in this survey. What has been your experience?

Photo by mrhayata

Empty Arms: Beautiful video shares the anguish of infertility

Empty Arms is a beautiful video created by Susan Robinson. In a simple way using music, images and words it tries to share some of the pain that couples with fertility issues face every day.

It’s a poignant video, not judgmental or accusatory, but of encouragement to friends and family to stand alongside and simply love.

Not fully understanding, not always having words, not trying to problem solve … these are all things that are just fine. Being there as a shoulder to cry on, a friendly face, someone who says “I’ll stand by you and support you as you journey through this” – that’s what’s really needed.

Take a look at TearsAndHope.com to play the video.

Stress-linked infertility can be helped with talk therapy

A group of reproductive medical specialists from Indiana have come up with new research which suggests that infertility caused by stress factors can be reversed through various forms of talk counselling.

According to mental health counsellors, many couples unable to conceive anticipate the holidays with dread. “For them, the end of the year becomes another marker in their inability to have children,” said Deidra T. Rausch, PhD, LMFT, an Indiana counsellor specialising in infertility. “Plus, the seasonal emphasis on family can become a painful reminder of their ongoing struggles.”

Fertility physicians believe that reducing stress is key for many infertility patients, with potential for both mental and physical benefits. On the physical side, stress signals the pituitary gland that the body is in trouble, said Laura Reuter, MD, medical director at Midwest Fertility Specialists.

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