Unraveling the Sperm Dark Matter: Investing in Female Health

Abstract

Male-factor infertility affects millions of couples worldwide. Due to a lack of alternatives, many couples ultimately resort to In Vitro fertilization (IVF) with Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). This treatment puts most of the infertility burden on the female partner and requires an invasive surgical procedure. The availability of IVF/ICSI has inhibited progress into the understanding and treatment of male infertility and put the female at risk. To overcome this negative impact on the female, there is a need to reinvest in the study of sperm biology. As recent examples demonstrate, sperm have many unknown factors – the sperm dark matter-that can help resolve undetermined male infertility. Directing research to uncover the sperm dark matter will ultimately lead to novel treatments of male infertility focused on treating the underlying etiology and not merely focusing on the female partner.