New genetic markers for male fertility.

Studies in the last years definitively demonstrate the high prevalence of genetic causes of spermatogenic impairment. A large proportion of infertile males does not receive a clear diagnosis and are reported as idiopathic or unexplained, also because standard semen analysis cannot clearly distinguish fertile from infertile populations. Researches aimed at identifying new potential genetic markers of sperm fertilizing ability and male fertility are therefore necessary. Two recent papers addressed these questions and provided interesting results on new possible genetic factors involved in male fertility and as prognostic markers of fertilizing potential of human spermatozoa.