Y Chromosome Microdeletions in Infertile Men from South West of Iran

Today, with advances in assisted reproductive techniques, many infertile couples are able to have children. However, there is always risk of passing genetic abnormalities associated with infertility from parents to children. Therefore, detection of microdeletions of Y chromosome in patients with spermatogenesis failure seems very important. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of microdeletions in Y chromosome in infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia in South West of Iran, Shiraz. 60 infertile men with severe oligozoospermia and non-obstructive azoospermia were examined. Multiplex PCR was applied to detect the microdeletions. Frequency of microdeletions in men with severe oligozoospermia and azoospermia was 8.3%. All deletions were observed in AZFc region. This study emphasizes that analysis of microdeletions should be carried out for all patients with idiopathic azoospermia and severe oligospermia who are candidates for intra cytoplasmic sperm injection. Keywords—Infertility, Azoospermia, Severe oligozoospermia, Y chromosome Microdeletions.