Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
We must Examen male fertility
Fast-track testing service for men launched by Belfast firm as NHS waiting lists lengthen
As most of you are aware, today is Father’s Day. The day the dads in our lives get spoilt with presents and cards and treated to days out and family experiences for 24 hours as we convey just how much they mean to us.
All in all, a very happy day.
However, it can also be a very unhappy day for many, particularly those who want nothing more in this world than to be a dad – but can’t.
Just like how Mother’s Day can be a trigger for any women out there who are struggling to conceive, it can be just as tough for men.
Even more so as most of the time, the focus is on the female side of infertility.
That definitely should not be the case as statistics show it is something which affects one in every six couples trying to conceive. And in at least half of all cases of infertility, a male factor is a major or contributing cause.
There are lots of options available to women who are looking to find the root of their infertility struggle – GPs, gynaecologists fertility experts. However, for men, the options are a bit more limited.
The one test they need to do can only be carried out at their local NHS fertility clinic.
And even after they get past the huge waiting lists – made even worse by the Covid-19 pandemic – the test that is carried out is quite basic. It can determine the sperm’s mobility and quantity but what it can’t identify is the quality. This can only be done in one way – in a test which was created by Queen’s University Belfast Professor Sheena Lewis.
She has dedicated her career to researching male infertility, specifically sperm DNA quality, with her goal being to identify causes and treatments and she has done this by developing novel biomarkers.
Prof Lewis’ research has led to the formation of a university spin-out company – Examenlab Ltd – marketing its Exact range of male fertility tests powered by SpermComet technology). She has researched in the Russell group University; Queens University Belfast for 25 years to develop this accurate test to diagnose male infertility.
Prof Lewis said: “DNA is what makes us who we are. And the DNA of sperm is its most important feature – it makes a man’s child look and act like him.
“Your sperm DNA carries a copy of the genes that you pass on to your baby so not only do your genes pass on your characteristics – like eye colour or height – but they build our brains, determine our behaviour and our future health.
“Sperm DNA can be damaged when sperm are being made; snapping some of the strands.
“Men with high levels of damaged sperm DNA are less likely to get their partner pregnant and have double the risk of miscarriage.
“Even if your sperm count is normal, the sperm may not be of good quality.” And Prof Lewis told how important it is to have all the information before deciding on which course of infertility treatment to embark upon.
She said: “Fertility treatment can be emotionally draining, time consuming and expensive.
“If you are starting a cycle of treatment, it is vital you give yourself the best possible chance of making that cycle of treatment count. With every cycle comes the possibility of getting pregnant and having a baby, it is therefore important men understand their levels of sperm DNA damage.
“The quality of your sperm DNA will help fertility experts predict the fertility treatment with the highest likelihood of success for you, which means you could improve your chances of getting pregnant with fewer treatment cycles. The power to improve the quality of your sperm DNA is literally in your hands.”
And with one in four pregnancies ending in miscarriage, it’s sadly a relatively common problem many couples have to face so determinig your sperm DNA could help avoid such emotionally-charged losses. Prof Lewis said: “Exact testing provides information on the amount of DNA damage in your sperm, which may provide an explanation as to the reason behind your miscarriage. “If it is sperm DNA damage that’s a problem, there are a number of lifestyle changes that can be undertaken to improve your sperm quality and increase your chances of a successful pregnancy in
the future.
“The test can not only help provide necessary understanding, but also help fertility professionals make clinical decisions in regard to which treatment is right for you.”
Visit www.examenlab.com for more info.