UWC calls on men to lend a hand in sperm drive

YOUNG MEN have been asked to lend a hand, and donate their semen, for a groundbreaking research project at the University of the Western Cape.

It’s no joke: the Comparative Spermatology Laboratory is calling on them to contribute to vital research into male reproductive health. The study, which seeks to explore sperm function in South African men, is being led by Associate Professor Liana Maree.

“This study is all about researching general sperm function in South African men,” said Maree. “It’s not just a Movember initiative, but an ongoing effort to address a growing health concern."

According to Maree, worldwide, about 15% of couples struggle to conceive, and of those, 50% have male-related factors contributing to infertility, with poor sperm quality often being the main culprit. In South Africa, the statistics are even more alarming. Recent figures show that one in four couples face fertility challenges, with male fertility issues responsible for 40% of the cases.

“We’re investigating the impact of environmental contaminants, particularly those found in our marine environments, on sperm function,” explained Prof. Maree. “Lifestyle factors such as alcohol use, smoking, diabetes, and other illnesses also play a significant role.”

This research is part of a broader effort to raise awareness about male infertility, a topic often overshadowed by the assumption that fertility issues are solely female-related. “We want to make people aware that males also contribute to infertility,” Maree said. “In many cases, the cause is unexplained, and that’s what we’re aiming to uncover.”

To ensure the accuracy and integrity of the study, the lab is focusing on recruiting healthy young male donors. “We focus on healthy individuals to eliminate secondary factors,” Maree explained. “Donors fill out a detailed questionnaire about their lifestyle — whether they drink, smoke, exercise, etc. — so we can ensure the samples aren’t affected by too many variables.”

Participants are compensated for their time and effort. However, Maree emphasizes the ethical considerations behind this. “It’s not about trading samples for money,” she said. “It’s compensation for the effort involved; coming to campus, taking time off to deliver the samples to our lab. It's one of the incentives to encourage donations, as these samples are difficult to obtain.”

The programme is ethically approved and primarily operates on campus, where students are more likely to understand the importance of the research. Maree adds that compensating donors for their time is a common practice worldwide. “People are compensated for semen samples all over the world, it’s nothing unusual,” she said.

Men interested in contributing to this important study can contact Maree directly at lmaree@uwc.ac.za.