The majority of men with CF have congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD), a medical condition whereby sperm cannot get from the testes to the ejaculatory duct.

This in turn causes a medical condition known as obstructive azoospermia where sperm are absent from the semen. It is important to note, however, that infertility cannot be assumer and a confirmatory analysis of sperm count will be required before a man with CF will be able to access fertility supports. 

Where a sperm count has confirmed azoospermia you will be referred to a specialist for surgical sperm retrieval, whereby sperm will be retrieved from the testes by means of either epididymal sperm aspiration, testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) or testicular sperm extraction (TESE).

Following sperm extraction, semen analysis will be done to determine the health of your sperm. If at this stage your sperm is deemed not to be sufficiently healthy, the fertility specialist may recommend lifestyle changes to try to improve sperm health or may suggest you consider a sperm donor or alternative fertility options.

If, however, your extracted sperm is deemed to be sufficiently healthy, you can then proceed with IVF-ICSI treatment.

Fertility in women with CF
Women with CF generally have a healthy reproductive cycle and are able to become pregnant spontaneously. As such it is important for women with CF to practise safe sex to avoid unplanned pregnancy. For other women with CF, they may experience fertility problems owing to thickened cervical mucus, disruption of the uterine environment, delayed puberty and ovulatory dysfunction (Vanwort, Teresa A., et al, 2014).

If you have been trying for a baby for a significant period of time without success you may want to have your fertility assessed by a specialist. The specialist will first establish whether your ovulation is healthy and whether your uterus and fallopian tubes are functioning normally.

Fertility Treatment for women with CF
Two common fertility issues which may be identified include ovulatory irregularities, such as those caused by inadequate secretion of sex hormones, or irregularity in the length of the menstrual cycle or bleeding. In the case of the ovulatory irregularities, you may be given clomid to stimulate follicle/egg growth and b-human chorionic gonadotrophin to induce ovulation.

Where there is irregularity in the length of the cycle, you may be given oral contraceptive pills to regularise your cycle (Ahmad Asima, et al, 2013). If you do not have any other fertility issues you can schedule intercourse in the ‘fertile window’, the period of about six days starting five days prior to ovulation, and with the help of mild hormonal/ chemical stimulation you should conceive normally.

The value of the grant for first-time applicants is €3,000.

The value of the grant for second-time applicants is €2,000 and value of the grant for third-time applicants is €1,000. 

Where a pwCF and their CF carrier partner wish to avail of PGD, an additional grant may be available.  Please contact the office for more details.

A Fertility Grant Application form and supporting documentation from your CF Consultant and the fertility clinic you plan on attending, must be sent to the CFI National Office. Please check with the team what the current deadline is.

Please read the fertility grant guidelines in advance of applying for this grant.

Contact CFI office memberservices@cfireland.ie / tel 01 4962433 to request Fertility Grant application form.

Fertility Grant Scheme Policy and Guidelines (Includes general information, guidance on the application process & additional supports)Download

CFI strongly encourages members to seek Genetic Counselling advice and support prior to pursuing assisted fertility treatment. Please talk to a representative in the Fertility Clinic you are interested in or contact the National Centre for Medical Genetics for more information

Tel: 01 4096739.

If you would like to be connected with another member of the Association who has also undergone fertility treatment for advice or support, please get in touch and we will do our best to arrange this.

At the time of writing these guidelines, there are some fertility clinics in Ireland that offer fertility treatment at a reduced cost to couples who are both medical card holders, subject to demand and at the discretion of the relevant clinic. If you and your partner meet these criteria, we recommend you talk to your GP or fertility clinic for more information.

In addition, if you have private health insurance we recommend contacting your provider to see if fertility treatment is covered under your plan.