A new genetic mechanism has been discovered that may be involved

In France, one in eight couples see a doctor because of difficulties having a baby, according to l’Inserm. We are talking about infertility in a married couple when conception has not occurred after 12 to 24 months of complete regular intercourse without contraception. “In three-quarters of cases, infertility is male or female, or it is associated with both sexes. In 10 to 25%, it is not attributable to a specific defect of one of the partners,” Inserm says.

according to health insuranceAll factors of male infertility are not yet known. World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the condition of the male reproductive system in men is caused by low sperm count and motility or the absence of sperm in the semen. Genetic factors can drive these two main mechanisms. Researchers from Newcastle University in the UK recently discovered a new cause of male infertility. Their results were published in the journal Nature Communications.

29 mutations that could be a cause of male infertility

“It is known that de novo mutations (ie not present in the parents) play an important role in sporadic disorders. We hypothesize that de novo mutations play an important role in male infertility and explain some of the genetic causes of this little-studied disorder” and they identified.

For the purposes of their work, the scientists collected the DNA of 185 people. Among the participants were sterile men and their parents. After analysis, 29 of 145 rare mutations that alter the de novo protein were classified as possibly causing male factor sterility. Can we read in the study. Researchers have determined the occurrence of these mutations “During DNA replication during reproduction”.

The 29 mutations identified by the research authors relate to genes known to play a role in male reproduction. Currently, they do not know how these mutations may have an effect on sperm development by the testicles. But the team reports that there is a 50 percent chance that infertility caused by these mutations will be passed on to the children of infertile men, which could lead to infertility from one generation to the next.