Breakthrough Discovery: Vitamin A Formulation Induces Sperm Production in Sterile Men
Groundbreaking Advance Gives Hope To Men With Low/No Sperm Counts Who Were Told They Would Never Be Fathers.
Beverly Hills, CA – October 20, 2024 – A unique form of vitamin A (retinoic acid), prescribed clinically, can help sterile men make sperm, according to a study presented at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. This breakthrough finding stems from years of research demonstrating the importance of retinoic acid to normal sperm production.
Currently, half of infertile men with no ejaculated sperm can be treated by finding sperm in the testicles through testicular procedures and surgeries. The other half have no usable sperm, and therefore elect to go childless, adopt or use donor sperm to build their families.
The study builds on the pioneering work of Dr. John Amory (Department of Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine), a co-author on the study, who identified the importance of retinoic acid in treating severely infertile men with azoospermia, a condition of complete sterility. Many of the patients studied by Dr. Amory had failed surgical sperm retrieval procedures yielding no usable sperm for in vitro fertilization (IVF). The research aimed to correct presumed deficiencies of retinoic acid in the testes, with the hope that replenishing this critical element would stimulate sperm production. Indeed, sperm production was increased in sterile men receiving treatment.
In this collaborative study between the University of Washington and The Turek Clinic in Beverly Hills California, 27 men with azoospermia (no sperm) or cryptozoospermia (extremely low sperm counts) were treated with retinoic acid therapy for at least six months. Remarkably, 30% of the participants developed reliable, motile ejaculated sperm. In all cases where sperm were produced, the counts were sufficient for IVF, eliminating the need for surgical sperm retrieval. Additionally, pregnancies with IVF were observed. This FDA-approved medication for treatment of severe cystic acne is associated with dry skin and chapped lips, which was found in all study patients.
“Honestly, making sperm from scratch in these severely infertile men with retinoic acid is a complete game-changer,” says Molly Jessup, NPc, lead author of the study. “The most exciting part is that these men are avoiding potentially invasive surgeries to find sperm,” she adds. Dr. Paul Turek, senior author adds, “There’s nothing that’s done this before and rescued sterile men from sterility. It’s really a ‘babymaker’ of a pill.”
About The Turek Clinic
The Turek Clinic, located in Beverly Hills and San Francisco, is dedicated to treating and solving the unique conditions and needs of reproductive-aged men both in-person and virtually. They specialize in microscopic techniques such as no-scalpel vasectomy, vasectomy reversal, sperm mapping, sperm retrieval, sperm banking, varicocele repair, and ejaculatory duct repair. Their specialties also include the latest advances in men’s sexual health concerning testosterone management and replacement, erectile dysfunction, and testis prosthesis. Founder and Medical Director Dr. Paul Turek is an internationally renowned expert in male infertility and men’s sexual health. He believes that an intensely personal clinical-care approach, combined with the most advanced technologies and evidence-based medicine, provides the best holistic care for men.
Contact
Dr. Paul Turek
C: 415-309-5288
E: [email protected]
