Mucoviscidosis, fertility and pregnancy
With an increased life expectancy, comes a greater desire to start a family.
Women suffering from Mucoviscidosis sometimes have a diminished chance of pregnancy, due to their less regular ovulation compared to healthy women. The mucous in their uterus is also more rigid, making it more difficult for sperm cells to reach the egg cell. This does not necessarily prevent them from becoming pregnant, but it may take longer. However, before seeking to become pregnant, patients are advised to consult their physician. Every pregnancy entails a significant burden on the body and in some instances, the patient’s treatment will need to be adapted.
Men suffering from Mucoviscidosis are infertile or sterile in 99% of the cases. This happens because the Vas Deferens and a large portion of the Epidydmis are absent. In addition, the seed follicles and the discharge system can be absent or disfigured due to scarring. Men with Mucoviscidosis do produce sperm cells, but due to defects in the discharge system, the sperm cannot leave via the normal route. Without a microscopic examination, the ejaculation of a man with Mucoviscidosis cannot be distinguished from a healthy man. Men with Mucoviscidosis are therefore usually infertile, but not impotent.
Thanks to a technique called ICSI (Intra Cellular Sperm Injection), which is practised at the Centre for Reproductive Medicine, male patients can still hope to father a child. A small quantity of premature sperm cells is removed through a puncture or minor surgery, which is then used in the lab to fertilise the woman’s egg cells. After a few days an embryo starts to form, which is then implanted back in the woman, hopefully leading to a pregnancy.