MALE-FERTILITY FOLLOWING SPINAL-CORD INJURY - FACTS AND FICTION

Although most spinal cord injuries (SCIs) occur to males of parenting age, myths abound as to whether men can biologically father children a fter SCI. Following SCI, most men experience impairments in erectile a nd ejaculatory function. Semen can be obtained from almost all men wit h SCI through the use of vibratory or electrical stimulation. Their ej aculates often have normal sperm counts but more immotile sperm than f ound in men without SCI. This condition does not seem to be caused by lifestyle factors (such as elevated scrotal temperature, ejaculation f requency, and method of bladder management) but may be related to fact ors within the seminal plasma. Sperm from men with SCI may be used in assisted reproductive techniques to attempt biological fatherhood. Hea lth care providers, including physical therapists, should encourage me n with SCI seeking biological fatherhood to be evaluated at a center d edicated to assisting men with SCI in this specialty area.