THE FERTILITY POTENTIAL OF MALE CYSTIC-FIBROSIS PATIENTS

Men suffering from cystic fibrosis (CF) are considered to be infertile because of azoospermia. In testicular biopsies from two patients with CF normal spermatogenesis was found despite the absence of sperm in the ejaculate. Fructose and prostaglandin were not detectable in the semen whereas the levels of acid phosphatase and zinc were within normal limits, indicating normal prostatic function and absence of seminal vesicles. These findings may improve the possibility for male patients with CF to father a child.