Politics
Wednesday June 28, 2006
Vasectomy Tied to Abnormality in Sperm
Babies Conceived After Reversal "May Have Problems" Says Researcher
TODAY'S HEADLINES
E-MAIL
PRINT
By Gudrun Schultz
PRAGUE, Czech Republic, June 28, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Men who undergo vasectomy reversals have up to 10 times the normal rate of chromosomal abnormalities in sperm, a new study has found.
The European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology reported last week on the work of a team of Thai researchers, under professor Nares Sukchareon of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.
The scientists studied men suffering from obstructive azoospermia, a condition whereby sperm is prevented from mixing with ejaculatory fluid by a physical blockage, such as that caused by vasectomy surgery.
The study found that the men suffered from a significantly higher rate of severe chromosomal abnormalities in their sperm than would usually be found in healthy men.
“The rate of abnormality was about 10 times higher than the [rate] in normal fertile men,” said Professor Sukchareon.
They also found that men who underwent surgery to reverse a vasectomy continued to show high levels of abnormalities. The scientists emphasized that the sperm abnormalities stemmed from the original vasectomy procedure, which blocks sperm from entering the ejaculatory fluid. Sperm production continues after a vasectomy, with the blockage often resulting in the build-up of old, disintegrating sperm within the epididymis. Pressure build-up within the epididymis frequently leads to greater breakdown of the sperm and increased scarring.
“This study raises a lot of questions,” Professor Sukcharoen said, speaking to the 22nd annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Prague on June 21. “Is the abnormal spermatogenesis reversible, and if so, how long will it take before things get back to normal? Perhaps more importantly, will babies born after vasectomy reversal – either conceived naturally or by artificial reproductive technology – have problems themselves?”
The scientists found that the chromosomal abnormality rate improved over time after a man underwent a vasectomy reversal. Professor Sukchareon said his team is beginning follow-up research to address questions surrounding the study findings.
“But in the meantime, I think that doctors need to be very aware of the possibility that babies born after vasectomy reversal may have problems.”
See related LifeSiteNews coverage:
Vasectomy-Reversal More Difficult than Previously Thought
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/mar/04033109.html
Back to TopLatest Headlines
- Cardinal Rigali: You Can't Claim to be "Reducing Abortions" but Publicly Funding them in D.C.
- General Electric to Use Embryonic Stem Cells for Testing, Phase out Lab Rats
- Ohio Supreme Court Allows Planned Parenthood to Conceal Abortion Records in Sexual Abuse Case
- LifeSiteNews Canada Day and Independence Day Message. Taking a few days off. LSN returns Monday July 6
- Heroically Pro-Life Brazilian Archbishop's Resignation Accepted Under Cloud of Vatican Newspaper Misrepresentation
- Pro-Life Groups Announce New Colorado Personhood Initiative
- Judge Puts Kibosh on DC Gay "Marriage" Referendum
- Al Franken Win Hands Supermajority to Senate Democrats
- Group Funded by Canadian Bishops' D&P Joins with Others to Denounce the "Natural Family" and "Family Rights"
- Financially Troubled Planned Parenthood of El Paso Closes Doors
- Abortion Linked to Subsequent Pre-Term Births, New Research Again Confirms
- New Orleans Homosexual Couple Ask Fed. Court to Overturn Marriage Amendment
- Slim Hope Of New Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Leader Promoting Pro-Life, Pro-Family Issues
- Pope Accepts Resignation of Bishop Caught Involved in Homosexual Encounters
- Young Children Removed from UK Schools for "Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour"
- Northern Ireland Politician Cleared of Wrongdoing after Reiterating Christian Teaching on Homosexual Acts
- UK Conservative Leader Speaks at Gay Pride Fundraiser
- More Letters to the Editor on Canadian Catholic Development and Peace Scandal (July 1)
- Letters to the Editor - Readers Respond to Development and Peace Scandal
- Watch This Dramatic New Video on Catholic Bishops Conference Funding of Pro-Abortion Groups
Most Read this Week
- Homosexual Duke U. Director Charged with Offering Adopted 5-Year-Old for Sex
- Famed Fr. Corapi Calls Canadian Bishops' Dissent from Humanae Vitae "Catastrophic"
- Pope: It is a Childish Faith to Oppose the Church Teaching on Life and Family
- LifeSiteNews Detailed Response to Canadian Bishops' Whitewash Report on Development and Peace
- Heroically Pro-Life Brazilian Archbishop's Resignation Accepted Under Cloud of Vatican Newspaper Misrepresentation
- Young Children Removed from UK Schools for "Inappropriate Sexual Behaviour"
- Is Pro-Choice the New Pro-Life?
- General Electric to Use Embryonic Stem Cells for Testing, Phase Out Lab Rats
- Swedish Parents Won't Tell if Child is Boy or Girl as Gender Experiment
- Cardinal Rigali: You Can't Claim to be "Reducing Abortions" but Publicly Funding them in D.C.
MORE NEWS: 
LifeSiteNews.com Home Page Last 10 Days Archives Special Reports
Copyright © LifeSiteNews.com. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License. You may republish this article or portions of it without request provided the content is not altered and it is clearly attributed to "LifeSiteNews.com". Any website publishing of complete or large portions of original LifeSiteNews articles MUST additionally include a live link to www.LifeSiteNews.com. The link is not required for excerpts. Republishing of articles on LifeSiteNews.com from other sources as noted is subject to the conditions of those sources.