Speech by V. Tsilivakou 13th Panhellenic Congress of Andrology

Infertility, the role of men... on hold

On June 18, the 13th Panhellenic Congress of Andrology was completed in Athens. Invited speaker, Mr. Vasilis Tsilivakos, head of the Fertility Clinic of Locus Medicus,  developed the topic: “Genomic, proteomic and metabolomic semen analyses. What is their role in the future laboratory evaluation of male infertility?” This conference is characterized over time by very high quality work, with lectures by highly specialized invited scientists.

The presentation clarified the methods aimed at detecting differences in the total genome as well as in the total proteins and metabolites in sperms of men with infertility compared to corresponding material of fertile men. The effort of the international research community to deepen the causes of sperm deterioration and to highlight parameters useful for the couple’s infertility clinic or for the andrology clinic or the endocrinology clinic that investigates male infertility was highlighted.

Despite the very precise technology used, the results show that we are still at the research level. Perhaps more promising may be the research of metabolites that can indicate risks mainly from the presence of specific substances from the environment such as lead, mercury, phthalates, polycyclic aromatics. hydrocarbons, etc. whose toxic role in sperm is already known.

We therefore expect the development of things in the above fields to be adapted to the existing diagnostic supplies, since sperm must be of the best possible quality for any attempt at natural or assisted fertilization.