Researchers at the National Institute of Immunology  have identified the genetic reasons for men’s infertility despite having a normal spermiogram with enough number of sperms that are motile and viable. “The findings will augment DNA diagnosis and will prove beneficial for those engaged in in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), genetic counselling and assisted reproduction technology (ART),” says an article titled ‘Genetic of Infertility’ published in scientific journal, PLOS ONE.

Human infertility is a major concern affecting about 15% of the global reproductive age group. In 50% of the cases, male partners are traced as responsible for infertility.

Among males who despite having a normal spermiogram are infertile, analysis at the molecular level may highlight the genetic reason behind the unexplained phenotype.

“The fertility is regulated by a number of factors at different levels. Mistakes at any molecular level cannot allow normal fertility to take place,” said Sher Ali, one of the authors of the study.

“The work demonstrates that infertility in human males having normal spermiogram is caused due to aberrations of the several Y chromosomes”.

The researchers looked at the DNA sequences of the genes and found defect in the genetic material of the patients. They found new mutations not observed in normal males used as controls.