Male infertility affects millions of couples worldwide, yet diagnosing its underlying cause often requires multiple tests and, in some cases, invasive procedures.
Researchers from Rīga Stradiņš University are developing a non-invasive approach that could make this process faster, more accurate, and less burdensome for patients within BioPhoT platform, Riga Stradins Innovation centre informs.
The SPERMFREE project, part of the BioPhoT platform, focuses on analysing cell-free DNA (cfDNA) naturally present in semen to evaluate testicular function.
Severe male infertility affects around 1% of men worldwide. Today, determining whether the testes are producing sperm often requires a combination of hormone tests, medical imaging and, in some cases, invasive procedures such as a testicular biopsy. These methods can be costly, time-consuming and do not always provide definitive answers, meaning that some patients undergo multiple examinations or even unnecessary surgical procedures.
The SPERMFREE project aims to address this challenge by analysing molecular markers found in cell-free DNA in semen. Researchers are combining these biomarkers with computational models that integrate information about cellular activity and potential inflammatory processes to assess whether sperm production is preserved, impaired or absent.
If successful, the technology could enable clinicians to make more precise diagnoses without the need for invasive procedures and help identify the most appropriate treatment strategy for each patient.
According to the research team, the new diagnostic approach could reduce unnecessary biopsies and other invasive examinations, shorten the diagnostic pathway and help couples reach informed family planning decisions more quickly.
The innovation is also expected to lower diagnostic and treatment costs for both patients and healthcare systems while reducing the emotional and time burden associated with prolonged infertility investigations.
