Infertility in patients with cystic fibrosis: A historical perspective

The current literature suggests that more than 95% of males with cystic fib rosis (CF) are infertile, in contrast to approximately 50% of their female counterparts who may conceive. The present study examines patterns of ferti lity in a group of patients with CF based on clinical and laboratory studie s performed over a longitudinal period of several years at the Georgetown U niversity Cystic Fibrosis Clinic. Among the eight cases presented, four wer e female and four were male. Three woman delivered three babies; two each d elivered a live baby, a third a stillborn, and the fourth remained childles s, Among the four men, one procreated one son, another patient two sons, an d an additional two patients remain childless.