Changes in male fertility during chronic illness
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Changes in male fertility during chronic illness
IRAS ID
168999
Contact name
na na
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Infertility is a devastating condition. Ten percent of couples suffer infertility, and nearly half of these cases are due to sperm abnormalities in the male partner (‘male infertility’). Little is known about the underlying causes of male infertility. No drugs are available which have proven benefit for male infertility. There is therefore a major need to learn more about the mechanisms causing male infertility in order to improve the treatment of men with this condition.
In order to study the effects of chronic disease on fertility in men, patients will be identified from clinics within Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust with systemic diseases such as diabetes, chronic liver disease, cancer and renal disease, and given information about the study. A control group of healthy men without systemic disease will also be recruited through newspaper adverts.
Patients interested in participating will be given an appointment to attend the Andrology Unit, Hammersmith Hospital. Informed consent will be obtained, then participants will be screened for inclusion eligibility (brief history, examination, semen analysis, and blood testing for reproductive hormones e.g. LH, FSH, testosterone). Those participating in part one will be asked to attend the andrology unit a total of four further times over a two year period, after the initial visit. Each time blood and semen samples will be collected. Those participating in part two will be randomly allocated into one of two groups. Group A will receive lifestyle advice and be given over-the counter anti-oxidants to take (L-carnitine) for a 12 month period. Group B will not receive any additional information or anti-oxidants. Both groups will be asked to attend no more than four further visits to provide blood and semen samples over the two year period.
REC name
London - London Bridge Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0679
Date of REC Opinion
13 Aug 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion