In a breakthrough study, a new international research has revealed a genetic change which may trigger male infertility. If a male sperm lacks a gene, called DEFB126, then sperm would not be able to travel through a woman’s cervix, thereby making a male infertile.

Published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, the research findings could trigger the much-needed medical approach for treating male infertility.

As per Gary Cherr, senior author and Professor of toxicology and nutrition at the University of California, the probability of a couple to remain without a baby within a period of 12 months shots up in case the male partner lacks the normal gene for DEFB126.

For the study, the team examined over 500 married couples in China and concluded that women with male partners having two copies of the defective gene were found to have least probability to conceive. However, presence of string factors like the shape, number or mobility of their sperm, help many men to fertilize the egg, though the probability is very less.

It’s being believed that about 14% of the couples across the world are affected by male infertility. Despite being healthy sperm and that too in adequacy, almost 50% of the infertile couples indicate genetic problem in male partners.

“This is where this gene mutation may really be quite important with these other stresses layered on top”, added Dr. Cherr.