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Sexual and Reproductive Health Among Men With Cystic Fibrosis

Katherine Campbell1, Mohamadhusni Zarli2, Kyle Schuppe3

  • 1Desai Sethi Urology Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL.

Urology
|June 28, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Men with cystic fibrosis (CF) can face infertility and testosterone deficiency due to CFTR protein mutations. However, assisted reproductive technologies now enable them to father biological children, with management strategies available for reproductive concerns.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive medicine
  • Genetics
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene.
  • CFTR protein dysfunction leads to a heterogeneous disease phenotype, impacting various organs.
  • Men with CF frequently experience infertility, often due to congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens, and may have testosterone deficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the pathophysiology of reproductive issues in men with CF.
  • To describe current assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for conception in men with CF.
  • To provide recommendations for managing reproductive health concerns in men with CF.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current research on CF pathophysiology and reproductive health.
  • Analysis of interventions and assisted reproductive technologies for male CF patients.
  • Synthesis of management strategies for reproductive health in CF.

Main Results:

  • CFTR mutations underlie male infertility in CF, primarily through vas deferens abnormalities.
  • Testosterone deficiency is a common endocrine complication in men with CF.
  • ART, including in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), offers successful conception options.

Conclusions:

  • Men with CF can overcome infertility and father biological children using ART.
  • Comprehensive reproductive health management is crucial for men with CF.
  • Further research should focus on optimizing fertility treatments and endocrine management for CF patients.

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