Chris Barratt on head-banging sperm and a future male contraceptive pill
Aug 22, 2023
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Professor Chris Barratt, Head of Reproductive Medicine, discusses the decline in worldwide sperm counts, his research on 'head-banging sperm', and the potential game-changing impact of a male contraceptive pill. He also explores the development of a home sperm analysis kit and the investigation of interrupting the cat's birth channel as a male contraceptive.
The declining sperm counts worldwide highlight the need to focus on studying male reproductive health and developing effective male contraception beyond condoms and vasectomy to achieve reproductive equity and alleviate the burden on women for contraception.
Advancements in fertility science, including understanding human-specific mechanisms and proteins related to fertilization, have the potential to offer better diagnostic tools and more contraception options, ultimately improving reproductive choice for couples and paving the way for personalized male contraception options.
Deep dives
The Decline in Sperm Counts and Male Infertility
Reproductive science has made significant progress in fertility treatments like IVF and egg freezing. However, there are concerns about the declining sperm counts worldwide. Sperm counts have dropped by 62% in the past 50 years, and the reason behind this decline is still unknown. The decreasing sperm counts pose a concern for fertility and can affect challenges in getting pregnant. Male fertility research has been largely overlooked, with the focus mainly on female fertility. The development of a widely available and effective male contraceptive pill has been lacking since the introduction of condoms, thus placing a burden on women for contraception. However, studies show that men are willing to use a male contraceptive pill if available. The development of a male contraceptive pill would significantly impact reproductive choice and family planning, helping to reduce unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions.
The Importance of Studying Male Fertility and Contraception
The decline in male fertility and the absence of effective and readily available male contraception highlight the need to focus on studying male reproductive health. Understanding the causes of male infertility and developing new diagnostic techniques would help identify and address fertility issues. Additionally, the development of male contraceptives beyond condoms and vasectomy would provide more contraceptive options. Increasing research in male fertility and contraception is crucial to achieve reproductive equity and alleviate the burden on women for contraception.
Revolutionizing Fertility Science
The podcast discusses groundbreaking advancements in fertility science and the potential for a male contraceptive pill. Research on the zona pellucida, the outer shell of the egg, has revealed that the traditional mouse paradigms of fertilization do not align with human fertility. Understanding human-specific mechanisms and proteins related to fertilization is critical for advancing clinical studies. The discovery of the cat-sperm channel and its dysfunction in some men has opened avenues for developing male contraceptives. While clinical trials and safety remain essential, the possibility of a male contraceptive pill is within reach in the next few years. These innovations in fertility science have the potential to offer better diagnostic tools, more contraception options, and improved reproductive choice for couples.
The Path to Better Understanding Male Infertility
The future of male fertility research lies in improving diagnostic techniques and conducting comprehensive studies. Traditional methods of sperm analysis have been in place for decades, and there is a need for better tools to understand male fertility issues beyond mere sperm count. By enhancing diagnostic capabilities and identifying genetic abnormalities, tailored treatments and medication can be developed to improve sperm function and increase fertility. This progress would pave the way for personalized male contraception options and natural conception for couples struggling with fertility.
Reproductive science has come a long way in recent years, but there's still plenty we don't understand - particularly around male fertility.
The reliability and availability of data in this field has become more of a concern in light of a study published this year, suggesting that sperm counts worldwide have dropped 62% in the past 50 years. As yet there is no clear answer as to why that is.
Professor Chris Barratt is one of the scientists working to change that. He's the Head of Reproductive Medicine at Ninewells Hospital and the University of Dundee Medical School, and has dedicated his career to better understanding male infertility; driving breakthroughs in how to study sperm dysfunctions – and most recently spearheading advances in developing a male contraceptive pill.
Chris talks to Professor Jim Al-Khalili about his academic struggles as a youngster, the lecture that changed his life, his research into 'head-banging sperm' and why he believes a new male contraceptive could be a game-changer.
Produced by Lucy Taylor.
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