Male infertility in an otherwise healthy person needs to be properly investigated, as it may be the result of an underlying health condition that needs treatment. Sometimes, a healthy carrier of cystic fibrosis may have a blockage or absence of the vas deferens – the muscular tubes that transport sperm from the testes towards the penis – which prevents sperm from exiting the body. In this case, sperm can be collected surgically, but the patient’s female partner should also be tested for the disease so that the chances of the couple having a baby with cystic fibrosis can be discussed.
