Men conceived through artificial insemination are less likely to reproduce (fertility). This is the conclusion reached by a group of scientists led by Andre van Steirteghem from the Free University of Brussels. This is reported by The Guardian.
The researchers studied the number and activity of sperm in young adults who developed from an egg (oocyte) fertilized using the ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) method. During the procedure, male germ cells are inserted into the oocyte using a microneedle. This type of in vitro fertilization is used in cases where the sperm is of poor quality (cells are inactive, few in number or damaged).
It was found that in many men aged 18-22, conceived with the help of ICSI, the concentration of germ cells in the analyzed samples is half of the normal. Sperm motility is also reduced by 50 percent. Young people, according to doctors, three times more often may suffer from oligozoospermia - an insufficient number of germ cells for normal fertilization.
Scientists explain the obtained results by the fact that infertility of fathers, which is often caused by mutations in genes, can be inherited. The technology itself has no effect on fertility. According to the rules, prospective parents are already warned about this risk, but there is no cause for alarm, as their sons in the future may also resort to ICSI.