A groundbreaking test has been developed to diagnose a specific cause of male infertility that often goes undetected in men with normal semen parameters.
Infertility affects one in six couples worldwide, with male factors contributing to nearly half of those cases. For many men with healthy sperm, the frustration deepens when no clear cause of infertility is identified. One such cause is a condition known as CatSper-related male infertility, a dysfunction affecting sperm movement.
Sperm require a specific swimming behavior, known as hyperactivation, to penetrate the protective layer surrounding an egg. This is controlled by the CatSper channels, which are located in the sperm tail. If these channels are defective, sperm cannot move properly, preventing fertilization.
In fertility treatment, many couples have found conventional methods like IVF and intrauterine insemination (IUI) ineffective. However, the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique, where a single sperm is injected directly into the egg, has resulted in successful pregnancies. This has highlighted the need for a test that can identify CatSper-related infertility.
At the 2025 Congress of the Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE) in Singapore, Dr. Samuel Young, a leading researcher at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology at University Hospital Münster in Germany, presented a breakthrough diagnostic tool for detecting CatSper defects.
Dr. Young explained that CatSper channels control sperm hyperactivation, a vital movement for fertilization. A defect in these channels results in infertility, but until now, diagnosing this issue has been challenging.
The CatSper test, developed as part of Dr. Young’s research, involves a simple semen analysis. The test quickly and reliably identifies whether a CatSper defect is present, enabling informed treatment decisions for couples struggling with unexplained infertility.
In a study involving 2,386 patients, the test showed impressive accuracy in assessing CatSper function, transforming it from a theoretical concept into a practical diagnostic tool. For the first time, men with CatSper-related infertility can be accurately diagnosed, potentially saving couples from undergoing unsuccessful fertility treatments like IUI or IVF.
The test could also reduce the cost and side effects associated with IVF treatments, especially for female partners who may face hormonal stimulation. Additionally, it offers a significant time-saving benefit for couples, particularly women in their thirties and forties, whose fertility is declining.
The CatSper test provides clinicians with a more personalized, evidence-based approach to infertility treatment, including the potential use of ICSI.
The ASPIRE Congress in Singapore gathered nearly 2,000 professionals in fertility health to discuss the latest advancements in assisted reproduction.
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