Cystic-Fibrosis Sterility?

Question

I have heard that cystic-fibrosis (CF) can cause a male to become sterile, I have looked for it online, but have not found anything concrete, perhaps there is someone out there with CF that knows the answer for sure. My brother has CF however, I dont want to make him uncomfortable with asking him the question because if its not true, I dont want to give him the wrong impression... any help is greatly appreciated :)

My brother is 30 years old.

Answer 1

I have cystic fibrosis. I am 28 years of age. Nearly 98% of all males with cystic fibrosis are sterile due to the explanation given by another responder. It doesn't me the male cannot produce semen, it just means there is no sperm in the semen.

I have heard of males with cystic fibrosis having sperm abstracted from their testicles through surgery. They use the sperm for artificial reproduction.

I myself am sterile, but am only considering adoption. There are so many children out there who do not have parents. Also, unless genetic testing is done, there is the possibility of a 50% chance the conceived baby will have cystic fibrosis if the spouse is a carrier of the gene. Hope this helps.

Sounds like your brother is doing well. Since CF is a disease whose symptoms range a wide spectrum, if his symptoms are not as severe as most then he may still be fertile. A simple test could confirm this.

Answer 2

Good evening. I'm a 39 year old CF patient (2 years post bi-lateral lung transplant). While it is very common for CF males to be sterile it is not 100% the case.

From the CF Foundation: Adults with CF may experience health challenges such as CF-related diabetes and osteoporosis. CF also can cause reproductive problems -- more than 95 percent of men with CF are sterile. But, with new technologies, some are becoming fathers. Although many women with CF are able to conceive, limited lung function and other health factors may make it difficult to carry a child to term.

http://www.cff.org/about_cystic_fibrosis/index.cfm?ID=6737&blnShowBack=False&idContentType=648

Best wishes to you and your brother.

Answer 3

Males with CF are frequently sterile because of the congenital absence of the vas deferens (absent from birth). This is the tube that carries the sperm from the epididymis to the ejaculatory duct. It's an associated condition related to the genetic nature of the disease.

Answer 4

You didn't say how old your brother is. People with CF usually die before they reach adulthood, therefore, wether or not you have the ability to make babies is irrelevant. I should know this. My best friend died at the age of 15.

I'm delighted that your brother is still alive. Long may he live.

Answer 5

agree with the above analysis.