In a world where the human race faces the risk of extinction due to male infertility, Dr. Sarah Martins da Silva, a senior lecturer in reproductive medicine at Dundee University, is leading the charge to change the future of fertility.
Dr. da Silva, recognized by the BBC as one of the 100 most inspiring women in 2019, highlighted the alarming issue of male infertility in a provocative speech at a BBC 100 Women event in Delhi. She painted a stark picture: “If we don’t know what’s going on, if we can’t do anything to stop it, then we could potentially, in 40 years or 100 years, be in a position where sperm counts are zero,” she warned.
Over the past four decades, sperm counts have dropped by 50% to 60%, signaling a serious reproductive health crisis. In the UK, infertility affects about one in six couples, with male-related factors contributing to nearly half of the cases, according to Dr. da Silva.
Currently, there are no treatments available to improve sperm function. As a result, the burden falls on women, who often undergo invasive fertility treatments such as IVF or ICSI. These procedures involve hormone injections, minor surgery, and fertilization processes. Dr. da Silva expressed her frustration: “I always feel it’s such an inequality to be doing all of this medical treatment for her, because of a male health problem.”
Despite the growing need, male infertility remains under-researched, and societal expectations often place the responsibility of contraception and pregnancy on women. Dr. da Silva emphasized the lack of focus on male reproductive health in scientific research, pointing out that infertility is typically categorized under gynecology, where female specialists dominate.
Dr. da Silva’s work, however, is changing that. Her team in Dundee is studying how sperm function works, with a focus on the sperm-specific calcium CatSper channel. Research has shown that pesticides can negatively affect this channel, and Dr. da Silva’s team is now working to identify drugs that could improve sperm function.
Her long-term goal is to develop a pill that men could take to boost their sperm count. However, this is not a quick fix. The process of drug development is lengthy and involves rigorous testing to ensure it does not harm embryos. Clinical trials and securing funding for such a breakthrough also take time.
“The ultimate aim is to develop new treatments and options for infertile men,” said Dr. da Silva. “As a doctor, faced with an infertile couple in front of me, that’s my motivation—to ease the burden of fertility on women and provide men with new options.”
Dr. da Silva’s groundbreaking research and commitment to addressing male infertility have the potential to reshape reproductive medicine and provide a more equitable future for couples facing infertility.
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