The Effects Of Diabetes On Male Fertility And Epigenetic Regulation During Spermatogenesis
Go to: GLUCOSE METABOLISM IN SPERM Sperm cell is the most differentiated mammalian cell. The main goal of sperm consists of transferring male haploid DNA to female DNA through a series of mechanisms that imply their displacement along the female genital tract and fertilizing ability.11 Energy in sperm cells is mainly used to maintain the motility to complete capacitation and subsequent acrosome reaction.12,13,14 Sperm cells need energy to acquire and maintain motion competence after epididymal maturation because they are actually immotile in testis.14 Much adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in sperms is consumed for maintaining the motility. Except some metabolites, such as lactate and citrate, sperm mainly utilize sugars as an energy fuel including glucose, mannose, and fructose. The two main metabolic pathways involved in energy generation are anaerobic glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation.15 Inhibitors of either oxidative metabolism or glycolysis in many species show that either pathway alone can maintain mobility independently.16 Sperm metabolism can proceed through glycolysis, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation or the pentose phosphate pathway. The predominant pathway used depends on species, oxygen content and/or hexose availability. In fact, sperm have a mitochondrial sheath in the midpiece, where the oxidative processes may take place.15 Therefore, the most important glycolytic enzymes are mainly located in the principal piece of the tail which is connected to the fibrous sheath.15,17,18,19,20,21 Glucides are polar molecules that are rich in -OH groups and can passively cross the lipidic bilayer in a very slow and inefficient manner. Therefore, carriers are required when cells uptake glucides.15 An important role of supplying cells with energy is realized by Continue reading >>
Will Diabetes Make Me Infertile?
According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 20 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes, and more than eight million are undiagnosed but assumed to have the condition. Diabetes is a serious health concern which requires careful attention and monitoring of diet, exercise and lifestyle habits. When diabetics take care of themselves, they can lead normal, healthy lives with relatively minimal daily impact from their condition. However, one unexpected concern that doesn’t usually come up in diabetes discussions with men is their fertility and the effect diabetes can have on trying to conceive. How does diabetes affect fertility? In men, diabetes is known to cause certain medical issues that make conception difficult or not possible without treatment. These conditions include erectile dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation, retarded (delayed) ejaculation, low sperm quality, and low testosterone, also known as hypogonadism. What are these male infertility conditions? Erectile dysfunction – Men who struggle with erectile dysfunction are unable to get or maintain an erection. Erectile dysfunction is caused by nerve damage and issues with proper blood circulation. It is most common in long-term diabetics and those with untreated diabetes. Retrograde ejaculation – This is when semen enters your bladder instead of exiting the body. This is not a serious health concern, but it will make it difficult to conceive without assisted reproductive technology. Retarded ejaculation – This is when a man struggles to ejaculate due to penile nerve damage, certain medications, stress or psychological issues, or diabetes. Assisted reproductive services are needed in order to address infertility caused by nerve damage. Low sperm quality – Sperm quality and sperm motility Continue reading >>
High Sugar In Men And Sperm Count
An estimated one in eight couples who want to have children experience the pain and frustration of infertility, according to the infertility website Resolve. In a third of the cases, male factors cause infertility; another 33 percent is caused by problems with the female partner and another third can be both partners or unknown causes. Diabetes -- high blood sugar -- can affect a man's fertility in several ways, including lowering sperm count in some cases. Diabetes and Infertility in Men Type 2 diabetes is more common among both men and women than type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disorder, MayoClinic.com explains. Lifestyle factors, such as being overweight or having high cholesterol levels, contribute to having type 2 diabetes. As the incidences of overweight and obesity have risen, so has the occurrence of type 2 diabetes. High glucose levels in the blood damages blood vessels throughout the body. In diabetic men, high glucose levels can cause impotence -- the inability to maintain an erection -- as well as damage to the sperm. In a Qatar study published in the December 2009 issue of "International Urology and Nephrology," 25 percent of the men with type 2 diabetes were infertile. Retrograde Ejaculation Men with high blood glucose levels can develop retrograde ejaculation, a condition where the semen goes back into the bladder rather than being ejaculated normally during sex. Nerve damage prevents bladder muscles from tightening and keeping sperm out of the bladder during ejaculation. The number of sperm in the semen might be normal, but because most or all of the semen doesn't exit the body during orgasm, few or no sperm reach the woman's vagina. The sperm count in the ejaculate will appear very low. Damaged Sperm Several studies have shown that men with type 2 diabet Continue reading >>
Risk Of Diabetes According To Male Factor Infertility: A Register-based Cohort Study
Risk of diabetes according to male factor infertility: a register-based cohort study Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Correspondence address. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Capital Region of Denmark, Bispebjerg Frederiksberg Hospital, Bispebjerg Bakke 23, Building 20C, 1.floor, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark. Tel: +45-5160-2515; E-mail: [email protected] Search for other works by this author on: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine Research Center for Prevention and Health (RCPH) Human Reproduction, Volume 32, Issue 7, 1 July 2017, Pages 14741481, Clara Helene Glazer, Jens Peter Bonde, Aleksander Giwercman, Ditte Vassard, Anja Pinborg, Lone Schmidt, Elvira Vaclavik Bruner; Risk of diabetes according to male factor infertility: a register-based cohort study, Human Reproduction, Volume 32, Issue 7, 1 July 2017, Pages 14741481, Is male factor infertility associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes? The study provides evidence that male factor infertility may predict later occurrence of diabetes mellitus with the risk being related to the severity of the underlying fertility problem. Previous cross-sectional studies have shown an increased prevalence of comorbidities among infertile men when compared to controls. In this prospective cohort study, 39 516 men who had since 1994 undergone fertility treatment with their female partner were identified from the Danish national IVF register, which includes data on assumed cause of couple infertility (male/female factor, mixed and unexplained infertility) and type of fertility treatment. With a median follow-up time of 5.6 years, each man was followed for diabetes occurrence from enrollme Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Male Infertility: What Are The Concerns?
Diabetes is a worldwide epidemic with significant impacts on multiple aspects of men's health. 3.5 in every 1000 reproductive aged men (18-45 years old) in the United States are living with diabetes 1. While it is true that many Americans are aware of diabetes' impact on cardiovascular, renal, ophthalmologic, and neurologic health, many do not know that it can also negatively impact fertility. This occurs through a number of ways including: erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, hypogonadism and semen abnormalities. Diabetes is a well-known risk factor for developing erectile dysfunction. Diabetes affects the nerves and blood vessels throughout the body, including those that supply the penis. Damage to the nerves can cause decreased sensation and arousal, while the decreased blood flow to the penis can lead to difficulty achieving or maintaining erections firm enough for a satisfactory sexual encounter 2. Solutions for men suffering from erectile dysfunction are wide and varied, and the first line treatments are oral medications called PDE 5 inhibitors (Cialis, Levitra, Stendra, Viagra). These medications help relax the smooth muscle in the penis, thereby increasing the blood flow and allowing for erections. If oral medications fail, patients may be offered intracavernosal injections, intraurethral suppositories, vacuum erectile devices with constricting bands, and penile prosthesis surgery 3. Ejaculatory dysfunction is another problem encountered among men with diabetes. Normal ejaculation is essential to allow for deposition of semen into the female reproductive tract, where male sperm can then fertilize a female egg. Damage to the nerves from long standing diabetes can cause a failure of the mechanism that propels sperm forward. This can allow sperm to go bac Continue reading >>
Men May Become Infertile Due To Diabetes: Study
Men may become infertile due to diabetes: study There are two major reasons for it when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or cells in the body don't respond to insulin produced. It is important to keep your blood glucose level in control (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: India has been declared as the 'Diabetes Capital' of the world in a recent report by IDF (International Diabetes Federation). It has also stated that India's 9% population is expected to be diabetic by 2030. There are two major reasons for it- when the pancreas does not produce enough insulinor the cells in the body do not respond adequately to insulin produced. "It is not difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes a healthy diet and regular exercise which will easily help you in combating the disease," said Dr.Priti Gupta, Consultant Fertility & IVF, First Step IVF Clinic, New Delhi. It is important to keep your blood glucose level in control. But it is the most important when you are planning to start a family. Recent reports have shown that diabetes can cause infertility in males. It is advisable to keep your glucose level in check before it affects your sex life leading to infertility. Reproductive side effects of diabetes in males: When it comes to diabetes and infertility, chances are higher in males. Diabetes directly affects the fertility in human body. The chances of infertility are higher in males. The scientific reason behind the same is that the oxidative stress caused due to high glucose level damages the DNA of the sperm. Thus, DNA gets damaged and fragmented. This causes a natural death of the cells which in turn makes it difficult for men to make their wives pregnant. Therefore, it is necessary that you keep a check on blood glucose level. Not only this, high blood glucose Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Fertility: How Diabetes Can Affect Your Fertility
You’ve have been trying with no luck to get pregnant and have not been able to a find a reason for your infertility. You may have tried a fertility cleanse, begun eating a fertility diet, and are taking all the right supplements and herbs, but are still having trouble conceiving. It may be time to have a simple blood test to determine if your glucose levels are too high. With the rates of Type II diabetes rising every year in the U.S., more and more infertility specialists are looking toward this health issue as a main cause of some otherwise unexplained infertility cases they see. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are more than 200,000 new cases of Type II diabetes diagnosed every year, with another 2.4% of the general childbearing population suffering from the disease but not knowing it. When it comes to diabetes and infertility the answer is clear: there is a connection. No, in many cases (especially among women), diabetes alone does not keep them from getting pregnant, but it oftentimes keeps them from staying pregnant. In many cases, say fertility doctors, “a woman with higher than normal glucose levels does get pregnant month after month. Unfortunately her diabetes status prevents that embryo from implanting in the uterus, causing a miscarriage before she ever realizes she is pregnant.” In this case, the diabetes isn’t preventing conception, but is preventing an ongoing pregnancy. High glucose levels are reported to increase a woman’s chances of miscarriage by 30-60% according to statistics released by the American Diabetes Association. Even when implantation does occur, there are other risks to consider, including: An increased risk of birth defects due to damage caused to embryonic cells form the high levels of glucose in the blood Continue reading >>
Diabetes May Cause Surge In Male Infertility, Scientists Warn
Diabetes may cause surge in male infertility, scientists warn First published on Thu 3 May 2007 09.37EDT Rising levels of diabetes may lead to a surge in male infertility, according to scientists who have discovered that men with the condition are more likely to have damaged sperm cells. The warning follows tests on diabetic men that revealed a 60% increase in fragmented DNA in their sperm compared with samples from healthy men. The findings suggest that male fertility problems may become more widespread as diabetes rates rise in line with the obesity epidemic. Few studies have investigated a link between diabetes and infertility, and so far there is no proof the condition reduces fertility or causes health problems among the children of diabetic men. But the researchers say their results highlight the need for further studies into diabetes and its possible effects on fertility. The team, lead by Sheena Lewis, scientific director of the reproductive medicine research group at Queen's University, Belfast, examined sperm samples from 56 men in their mid-30s, of whom 27 were diabetic. They found evidence that DNA was breaking apart in 52% of sperm cells from diabetic men, but only 32% from healthy men. They also found more genetic damage in the tiny energy-making mitochondria in the sperm of diabetic men. "These findings cause concern as they may have implications for fertility," said Ishola Agbaje, a co-author of the study, which appears in the journal Human Reproduction today. "Sperm disorders are thought to cause or contribute to infertility in 40% to 50% of infertile couples. The increasing incidence of systemic disease such as diabetes may further exacerbate this decline in male fertility." The team has not identified how diabetes might cause the fragile DNA within s Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Weight Affect Male Fertility
Several studies have shown a link between female infertility and obesity. Female diabetes has been linked to miscarriage and birth defects. Little data has been published on the effect of male weight and infertility. A new study shows diabetes and being overweight has a negative effect on male fertility.Diabetes is a disease associated with high blood sugar. The body normally produces a hormone called insulin, which regulates blood sugar and keeps it low. People can develop diabetes from a failure to make insulin (Type 1) or resistance to insulin (Type 2). The most common reason that people develop insulin resistance is being overweight or obese. In the last few decades, a higher percentage of Americans have become overweight. As a result, the rate of diabetes is increasing by a huge amount. Sperm DNA Damage A study conducted out of Belfast, Ireland was presented at the European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology. The research suggests that semen from diabetes patients looks normal under the microscope, but when examined more closely and compared to men with proven fertility, the sperm DNA seems to be significantly altered. DNA is the hereditary material located in cells. Some of the DNA is divided into discrete portions called genes. Each gene has a unique function. For the function of the gene to be carried out, the cell takes the information in the DNA and first converts it into a similar material called RNA. The RNA is then used as a template to make proteins. The proteins produced actually carry out the numerous functions in a cell. If the DNA or RNA in a cell is damaged, the protein produced may be present in lower amounts or not function correctly in the cell. Sperm are responsible for carrying male’s DNA to the female egg. At the time of fertilizati Continue reading >>
Can Diabetes Cause Infertility In Men?
According to a recent report by IDF (International Diabetes Federation), India continues to be the “diabetes capital” of the world, and by 2030, nearly 9 percent of the country’s population is likely to be affected by diabetes. Given the stats, it is important to keep your blood glucose level in control, especially if you are planning to start a family as diabetes can affect your sex life as well. Women can suffer from diabetes during pregnancy, known as gestational diabetes, which can put the mother and the child at risk of diabetes in the near future, but high blood glucose level in men (if left uncontrolled) can cause infertility. Dr Anubha Singh, Gynecologist and IVF Specialist from Shantah IVF Centre shares how diabetes can cause male infertility. How diabetes causes male infertility Not many people know that men with diabetes may take longer to bring about a conception in their wives. Diabetes can directly affect the fertility in the human body, and the chances of infertility in men with diabetes are higher as compared to infertility in women with diabetes. This is because high glucose level causes oxidative stress which damages the DNA of the sperm. Fragmented or damaged DNA further causes a natural death of the cells making it difficult for men to make their wives pregnant. Not just this, uncontrolled diabetes can affect the small blood vessels and nerves that lead to ejaculation, leading to erectile dysfunction. Moreover, increased blood glucose levels can lower the levels of testosterone, a hormone that controls sexual drive in men. Here’s more on ways diabetes kills your sex life. On the other hand, if your wife is pregnant with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, she might have the higher chances of abortion or miscarriage. Moreover, babies of a mother with g Continue reading >>
Diabetes Linked To Male Infertility
UK scientists have discovered that DNA damage in the sperm of diabetic men is higher than in the sperm of men who do not have diabetes. They suggest this may make diabetic men less fertile. You can read about the study in the journal Human Reproduction. The researchers, led by Dr Ishola Agbaje, a research fellow in the Reproductive Medicine Research Group at Queen's University, Belfast, compared the quality of the sperm from diabetic men with non-diabetic men by examining nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (MtDNA) . The participants were 27 diabetic men whose average age was 34 and 29 non-diabetic men whose average age was 33. The results showed that: -- Semen volume was lower in diabetic men compared with non-diabetic men (2.6 and 3.3 ml respectively). -- But sperm concentration was not significantly different between the two groups. -- Total sperm output, form, structure and "motility" (ability to move) were also largely the same in the diabetic and non-diabetic men. -- The nuclear DNA in diabetic men's sperm cells was more fragmented than that of the non-diabetic men (52 per cent versus 32 per cent). -- There were more deletions in the mitochondrial DNA of diabetic men's sperm cells than those of the non-diabetic men. -- The mitochondrial DNA deletions in the diabetic men's sperm cells ranged from 3 to 6 and averaged 4, while for the non-diabetic men it ranged from 1 to 4 and averaged 3. The study concluded that: "Diabetes is associated with increased sperm nuclear and mtDNA damage that may impair the reproductive capability of these men." Deletions and fragmentation of DNA results in loss of genetic material which, in the case of nuclear DNA, causes infertility as the sperm is not able to deliver its full complement of genetic codes in fusion with the egg to create a via Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Male Fertility - Infertility, Retrograde Ejaculation, Sperm Quality
Erectile dysfunction is a common problem associated with diabetes that causes difficulty with getting or maintaining an erection. It is caused by neuropathy (nerve damage) and reduced blood circulation typically as a result of less well controlled diabetes or long standing diabetes. High levels of blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol are all associated with an increased risk of erectile difficulties. Getting these under control, as well as cutting down on alcohol and quitting smoking can help to reduce the effects of ED. A number of different treatment options are also available. Ejaculation problems can also result if nerves in the penis become damaged . Lack of nerve sensitivity is one problem which can affect the ability to ejaculation. Retarded, delayed and impaired ejaculation are all terms which describe a difficulty in achieving ejaculation. Note that retarded ejaculation can also be caused or influenced by psychological problems, age and by certain medications. If impaired ejaculation is brought on psychological problems then treatment, such as through counselling or psychosexual therapy . Ejaculation problems caused by nerve damage tend not to be treatable but it may be possible to find sex positions that result in improved nerve stimulation. Assisted reproduction technology (ART), such as IVF, can help with treating infertility if conception via intercourse is problematic or impossible. Another problem that may result from neuropathy ( autonomic neuropathy ) is retrograde ejaculation. This occurs if nerves are unable to control the muscles of the bladder from closing at the point of ejaculation, which results in semen entering the bladder rather than exiting via the penis. Retrograde ejaculation does not cause health problems but can impair conceptio Continue reading >>
Diabetes May Affect Men's Fertility
May 2, 2007 -- Men with type 1 diabetes may have more DNA damage in their sperm, possibly hampering fertility, a preliminary study shows. The study was small and doesn't prove that type 1 diabetes causes male infertility. But the findings deserve further research, write the researchers, who are based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. They included Ishola Agbaje, MD, of the Reproductive Medicine Research Group at Queen's University of Belfast. Agbaje and colleagues studied semen and blood samples from 27 men with type 1 diabetes. Those men weren't necessarily infertile; they were invited to participate in the study while getting routine diabetes checkups. For comparison, the researchers also studied semen and blood samples from 29 men without diabetes who were undergoing infertility tests. Both groups of men were in their early to mid-30s, on average. The men with diabetes had lower semen volume than the men without diabetes. But the diabetes patients' semen volume was still within the normal range set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Sperm count, shape, and motion (motility) were similar in both groups of men. But when the researchers analyzed the sperms' DNA, they found more DNA damage in the diabetes patients' sperm. Sperm damage may increase infertility, note the researchers. Many factors can cause DNA damage. It's not clear whether diabetes was responsible for the DNA damage seen in the study. The study didn't include any men without diabetes who weren't undergoing infertility tests. Such men might have even less DNA damage in their sperm than the study groups, the researchers note. Agbaje's team calls for further studies on DNA sperm damage -- and its possible fertility consequences -- in men with type 1 diabetes. The study appears online in the journal Human Re Continue reading >>
Sugar And Sperm Don't Mix
Add infertility to the lengthy list of medical problems associated with diabetes. The first research to examine the relationship between the disease and reproductive health suggests that diabetic men carry a much higher percentage of sperm with damaged DNA than do their healthy counterparts. The World Health Organization projects that the number of people with diabetes will nearly double by 2025, surpassing 300 million, due partly to an increasingly obese, inactive, and aging population. Type 1 diabetes typically manifests itself in childhood or young adulthood, while Type 2 usually strikes adults over 30. Both forms of diabetes can lead to heart and kidney disease, nerve damage, and blindness. They also can cause erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction and reduce semen quantities. But no one had investigated the disease's impact on sperm quality. Researchers at Queen's University in Belfast, U.K., analyzed semen samples from two small groups of young men attending a local fertility clinic. The first group included 27 patients with Type 1 diabetes, and the second comprised 29 nondiabetics of similar age. In today's online issue of Human Reproduction, the team reports no significant difference in the sperm concentration, appearance, or mobility between the two groups. But when the researchers performed DNA analyses, they found that 52% of sperm from diabetic men contained fragmented DNA, which could prevent them from fertilizing an egg or lead to abnormalities in the offspring. Only 32% of sperm had defective DNA in the control group. Get more great content like this delivered right to you! By signing up, you agree to share your email address with the publication. Information provided here is subject to Science's privacy policy. The problem could result from destructive fre Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Sexual And Reproductive Health | Andrology Australia
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is when a man is unable to get and/or keep an erection that allows sexual activity with penetration. It is not a disease, but a symptom of some other problem, either physical or psychological or a mixture of both. How common is erectile dysfunction in men with diabetes? Up to four in every five men with diabetes may eventually experience ED, and they are twice as likely to have erectile problems as men without diabetes. Age increases the chance of getting both ED and diabetes. ED is more common in men with high blood pressure and high cholesterol (common conditions in people with diabetes), and in those who are smokers. reducing blood flow to the penis or by affecting the function of blood vessels in the penis, making it more difficult for a man to get and/or keep an erection lowering the levels of testosterone (the male sex hormone). Can ED be prevented in men with diabetes? Erectile problems are more likely to happen when blood glucose levels are poorly controlled. Keeping blood glucose and blood lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) normal is important to prevent nerve and blood vessel damage to the penis. Not smoking and drinking less alcohol may also help prevent erectile problems. It is important to first manage the diabetes and any other linked conditions, such as high blood pressure. Once diabetes is properly controlled, the first treatment for erectile problems is usually an oral medicine (PDE5 inhibitors) such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra. The tablets work in about half of men with diabetes. If oral medicines do not work well, other treatments can be used, including vacuum devices, penis injections and surgery. Low libido is the term used to describe a lack of interest in sexual activity. Sexual desire, or libido is produced by a co Continue reading >>
