Spinal cord injury and male infertility—a review of current literature, knowledge gaps, and future research

Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects nearly half a million new patients worldwide, with 17,700 in the US each year, and disproportionately impacts young males of reproductive age. Almost every aspect of male reproduction is affected by SCI, resulting in: erectile, endocrine and sexual dysfunction, decreased sperm motility despite an often-normal count, and abnormal semen emission and ejaculation. The aim of this review is to focus on how SCI impacts testicular spermatogenesis, sperm function, semen quality, and overall fecundity while discussing what is not known, and future avenues for research.