{"id":71817,"date":"2024-07-06T20:00:09","date_gmt":"2024-07-06T20:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/b80e33bbaabc099ce5968f71b4788606"},"modified":"2024-07-06T20:00:09","modified_gmt":"2024-07-06T20:00:09","slug":"men-with-spinal-cord-injuries-become-fathers-thanks-to-rare-fertility-treatment-at-miami-clinic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/men-with-spinal-cord-injuries-become-fathers-thanks-to-rare-fertility-treatment-at-miami-clinic\/","title":{"rendered":"Men with spinal cord injuries become fathers thanks to rare fertility treatment at Miami clinic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"article-gating gated-overlay show-gate\" readability=\"24.90543071161\">\n<div class=\"article-gating-wrapper\" readability=\"28.62265917603\">\n<p>Join Fox News for access to this content<\/p>\n<p>You have reached your maximum number of articles. Log in or create an account FREE of charge to continue reading.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-gating-legal tablet-desktop\" readability=\"21.43949044586\">By entering your email and pushing continue, you are agreeing to Fox News&#8217; <span class=\"waslinkname\">Terms of Use<\/span> and <span class=\"waslinkname\">Privacy Policy<\/span>, which includes our <span class=\"waslinkname\">Notice of Financial Incentive<\/span>. <\/div>\n<p><span>Please enter a valid email address.<\/span><\/p>\n<footer class=\"article-gating-footer\"><span class=\"waslinkname\">Having trouble? Click here.<\/span><\/footer>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"speakable\">A spinal cord injury can be life-altering \u2013 and the <span class=\"waslinkname\">potential for infertility<\/span> is often a devastating blow as well.<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">Among men who experience spinal cord injuries (SCIs) in the U.S., nearly eight in 10 have fertility and reproduction issues due to erectile dysfunction or poor sperm quality.<\/p>\n<p>But one clinic in Miami, Florida, is on a mission to help men with SCIs <span class=\"waslinkname\">start a family.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>STUDY SUGGESTS MEDITERRANEAN DIET COULD BOOST MALE FERTILITY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, part of the <span class=\"waslinkname\">University of Miami<\/span> Miller School of Medicine, has aided in the birth of 200 babies since the 1990s.<\/p>\n<p>Fox News Digital spoke with Dr. Emad Ibrahim, director of the Male Fertility Research Program, about how &#8220;amazing&#8221; this achievement has been.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/Picture-in-the-lab-with-patient-and-microscope.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/Picture-in-the-lab-with-patient-and-microscope.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/Picture-in-the-lab-with-patient-and-microscope.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/Picture-in-the-lab-with-patient-and-microscope.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/Picture-in-the-lab-with-patient-and-microscope.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/Picture-in-the-lab-with-patient-and-microscope.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/Picture-in-the-lab-with-patient-and-microscope.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/Picture-in-the-lab-with-patient-and-microscope.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/men-with-spinal-cord-injuries-become-fathers-thanks-to-rare-fertility-treatment-at-miami-clinic.jpg\" alt=\"a patient in the lab with dr. ibrahim\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><span>A patient with a spinal cord injury enters the lab with Dr. Emad Ibrahim at his clinic in Miami, Florida.<\/span> <span>(The University of Miami)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The doctor said &#8220;nothing beats the feeling&#8221; of finding out one of his patients is expecting a child.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>MEN&#8217;S ENERGY AND VITALITY PLUMMETS FOR 6 REASONS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Every time we get an email with an ultrasound picture that shows the baby \u2026 it&#8217;s a mission accomplished,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It\u2019s the most gratifying sensation you&#8217;ll ever have.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Ibrahim, an associate professor of urology and neurological surgery at UMiami, said the clinical research program is &#8220;very unique&#8221; in its quest to help men father their own children through techniques rarely found elsewhere.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/miami-project-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/miami-project-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/miami-project-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/miami-project-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/miami-project-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/miami-project-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/miami-project-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/miami-project-split.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/men-with-spinal-cord-injuries-become-fathers-thanks-to-rare-fertility-treatment-at-miami-clinic.png\" alt=\"eric rosemary, dr. emad ibrahim and darris straughter in a split image\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"9\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"13\">\n<p><span>New dads Eric Rosemary, left, and Darris Straughter, right, both underwent procedures with the Miami Project under the direction of Dr. Ibrahim, center.<\/span> <span>(Eric Rosemary; The University of Miami)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>While men with erectile dysfunction can be given medication to address this issue, <span class=\"waslinkname\">men with ejaculatory dysfunction<\/span> face a bigger challenge that the Miami clinic addresses through two unique procedures.<\/p>\n<p>The two techniques include penile vibratory stimulation and electroejaculation, both FDA-approved and selected based on the nature of the spinal cord injury.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION MEDS LIKE VIAGRA LINKED TO REDUCED ALZHEIMER&#8217;S RISK, STUDY SUGGESTS<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The electroejaculation machine activates and contracts the glands responsible for producing sperm. (The machine is also available in Sweden, its only other location besides Miami.)<\/p>\n<p>This method is guaranteed to be successful &#8220;almost 100% of the time,&#8221; according to Ibrahim.<\/p>\n<h2>\u2018Amazing\u2019 fatherhood<\/h2>\n<p>Men from all over the U.S., and even outside the country, have come to <span class=\"waslinkname\">seek this treatment<\/span> <strong>\u2014<\/strong> including Darris Straughter, 44, a Miami native.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><i><strong><u>For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews\/health<\/u><\/strong><\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Straughter was a victim of gun violence in 2018, he told Fox News Digital in an interview.<\/p>\n<p>While sitting at a traffic light, he was shot eight times. The injuries left him paralyzed from the chest down.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/ds.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/ds.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/ds.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/ds.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/ds.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/ds.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/ds.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/ds.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/men-with-spinal-cord-injuries-become-fathers-thanks-to-rare-fertility-treatment-at-miami-clinic-1.jpg\" alt=\"darris straughter and daughter\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><span>Darris Straughter plays with his daughter, who will turn 2 on Aug. 5, 2024. Straughter was paralyzed by gunfire in 2018.<\/span> <span>(The University of Miami)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t feel anything,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a crazy situation. You just have to roll with the punches and keep moving and try to stay positive.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Despite the incident, Straughter \u2014 who already had one child of his own \u2014 was determined to provide children for his wife.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>FDA APPROVES FIRST AT-HOME STERILE INSEMINATION KIT TO HELP WITH INFERTILITY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I kept saying, \u2018She deserves a kid,\u2019&#8221; he said. &#8220;She was by my side the whole time. So, I was like, \u2018I\u2019m going to try any way possible to make it happen.\u2019&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Straughter received treatment from Ibrahim, which ultimately led to his wife&#8217;s <span class=\"waslinkname\">successful pregnancy<\/span>. His daughter is now almost 2 years old and is &#8220;healthy and strong,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;[Fatherhood] is amazing. It&#8217;s so joyful,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I just love everything about it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/straughters.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/straughters.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/straughters.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/straughters.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/straughters.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/straughters.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/straughters.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/straughters.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/men-with-spinal-cord-injuries-become-fathers-thanks-to-rare-fertility-treatment-at-miami-clinic-2.jpg\" alt=\"the straughter family at disney\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"8\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><span>&#8220;I pray God continues to guide us on a great path,&#8221; Straughter, pictured with his wife and daughter, told Fox News Digital.<\/span> <span>(The University of Miami)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Fellow Florida resident Eric Rosemary, 46, also found success at the <span class=\"waslinkname\">Miami facility<\/span> after a Memorial Day accident 15 years ago left him paralyzed.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>OZEMPIC BABIES: WOMEN CLAIM WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS ARE MAKING THEM MORE FERTILE AND EXPERTS AGREE<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I was on a boat \u2026 in West Palm Beach, and I fell off the boat and shattered my C4, C5, C6 vertebrae and became a quadriplegic,&#8221; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Rosemary, who has been married for eight years, told Fox News Digital that he turned to the Miami Project when the timing was right to have kids.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/Rosemary-Family-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/Rosemary-Family-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/Rosemary-Family-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/Rosemary-Family-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/Rosemary-Family-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/Rosemary-Family-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/Rosemary-Family-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/Rosemary-Family-Photo-2.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/men-with-spinal-cord-injuries-become-fathers-thanks-to-rare-fertility-treatment-at-miami-clinic-3.jpg\" alt=\"eric rosemary and his family\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><span>Eric Rosemary of Florida, pictured with his family, said the Miami Project is &#8220;leading the way&#8221; in helping people with spinal cord injuries adapt.<\/span> <span>(Eric Rosemary)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Rosemary was previously involved in clinical trials with the project.<\/p>\n<p>He and his wife have since had two sons, born in 2020 and 2023, after three attempts at the <span class=\"waslinkname\">first pregnancy<\/span> and two attempts with the second.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When you first get injured, there are so many other things you have to worry about,&#8221; Rosemary said.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong>SPINAL CORD TREATMENT RESTORES FUNCTION FOR PARALYZED PATIENTS IN STUDY<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;In my 30s, I was able to cope with having a spinal cord injury, rebuilding my business, re-building my life, then getting married and having my boys,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I was fortunate enough that I had the time to do that.&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>As patients who have suffered from an SCI mainly focus on mobility and medical care at first, sexual function is usually &#8220;brushed off,&#8221; Ibrahim noted.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/straughers1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/straughers1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/straughers1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/straughers1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/straughers1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/straughers1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/straughers1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/straughers1.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/men-with-spinal-cord-injuries-become-fathers-thanks-to-rare-fertility-treatment-at-miami-clinic-4.jpg\" alt=\"straughter family at disney\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><span>Darris Straughter, pictured in the background with his daughter, is now a stay-at-home dad. His wife is shown in the foreground.&nbsp;<\/span> <span>(The University of Miami)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;They rarely talk about fertility,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And unfortunately, we still have some rehab centers in remote areas in the country that will tell these patients, \u2018Forget it. You&#8217;re not going to have any children.\u2019&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He added, &#8220;If [providers] knew that our program exists, and they could actually refer the patients to us, that would be of great help.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2>Ongoing research<\/h2>\n<p>As the Miami Project\u2019s procedures have shown excellent results, <span class=\"waslinkname\">more research<\/span> on a potential fertility treatment is underway, Ibrahim revealed.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>The program was awarded a $3.24 million, 40-year grant in July 2023 from the U.S. Department of Defense to conduct a clinical trial to study a drug called Probenecid, which was previously used to treat gout.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/343\/192\/ibrahim.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/686\/384\/ibrahim.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/672\/378\/ibrahim.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1344\/756\/ibrahim.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/931\/523\/ibrahim.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1862\/1046\/ibrahim.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/720\/405\/ibrahim.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/1440\/810\/ibrahim.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wp.timesamerica.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/men-with-spinal-cord-injuries-become-fathers-thanks-to-rare-fertility-treatment-at-miami-clinic-5.jpg\" alt=\"Dr. Emad Ibrahim headshot\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" readability=\"7\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><span>Dr. Ibrahim specializes in reproductive and sexual dysfunction in men with spinal cord injuries. He said &#8220;nothing beats the feeling&#8221; of finding out one of his patients is expecting a child.<\/span> <span>(The University of Miami)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Through years of research, Ibrahim and his team found that this drug targets the internal issues that some SCI patients experience, he said.<\/p>\n<p>In the pilot study, which included 18 patients with <span class=\"waslinkname\">spinal cord injuries<\/span>, Ibrahim reported that all participants saw improved sperm quality.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"waslinkname\"><strong><u>CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The medication is safe, and we have the publication to support that it works,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>The larger clinical trial is currently ongoing as the Miami Project is in search of new volunteers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Join Fox News for access to this content You have reached your maximum number of articles. 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