title: Experimental methods to preserve male fertility and treat male factor infertility.
abstract: Infertility is a prevalent condition that has insidious impacts on the infertile individuals, their families, and society, which extend far beyond the inability to have a biological child. Lifestyle changes, fertility treatments, and assisted reproductive technology (ART) are available to help many infertile couples achieve their reproductive goals. All of these technologies require that the infertile individual is able to produce at least a small number of functional gametes (eggs or sperm). It is not possible for a person who does not produce gametes to have a biological child. This review focuses on the infertile man and describes several stem cell-based methods and gene therapy approaches that are in the research pipeline and may lead to new fertility treatment options for men with azoospermia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gassei
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: orwigke@upmc.edu.
authors.forename: Kyle E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Orwig
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D015925:Cryopreservation; D005298:Fertility; D059247:Fertility Preservation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000637:transplantation*
keywords: Fertility; azoospermia; culture; de novo testicular morphogenesis; gene therapy; grafting; infertility; stem cells; transplantation