Objective microdeletions of Yq chromosome are the most frequent molecular genetics etiology for the male infertility which usually spans AZFa (azoo spermia factor a), AZFb and AZFc regions. Microdeletions are mostly seen in AZFc region and usually cover genes actively involved in spermatogenesis. Partial AZFc microdeletion may also happen with various spans namely gr/gr, b2/b3 and b1/b3. It is ...

When presented with an azoospermic patient, a thorough history and careful, considered physical examination often leads to a definite or presumptive diagnosis. An algorithmic, logical thought process is important to have in mind when embarking on the evaluation. Adjunctive laboratory tests, such as hormonal assays or genetic studies, are often complementary and/or additive and allow a very prec...

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in a cancerous testicle during orchiectomy for testicular neoplasm. This is a retrospective study and includes case histories of four azoospermic patients with incidental testicular cancer. None of the patients had fathered children prior to surgery and all patients were strongly motivated by the desire t...

The clinical management of men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) seeking fertility has been a challenge for andrologists, urologists, and reproductive medicine specialists alike. This review presents a personal perspective on the clinical management of NOA, including the lessons learned over 15 years dealing with this male infertility condition. A five-consecutive-step algorithm is proposed...

Heat shock transcription factor on Y (HSFY) is located in one of three candidate regions for azoospermic factor (AZF), AZFb on the Y chromosome. We and others have already revealed that some azoospermic males are missing the regions of the Y chromosome including HSFY. Previously, we showed that murine HSFY-like sequence [mHSFYL (Riken cDNA 4933413G11Rik)], which is the mouse orthologue of HSFY,...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES We undertook this study to observe the pattern of hormonal abnormalities and testicular pathology in azoospermic male Africans in Kano, Northern Nigeria. METHODS Eighty consecutive azoospermic infertile males attending fertility clinic in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, were selected for the study. Their semen were analyzed three times at eight weeks interval, afte...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether changes in the polymorphic trinucleotide (CAG) tract of the androgen receptor gene are associated with spermatogenic defects in patients with male infertility. DESIGN Case-control study of two ethnic groups. SETTING University referral centers for male infertility at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, and National University Hospital, Singapore. PAR...

Infertility is defined as the inability to conceive after 1 year of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. About 15% of couples are affected. Male factors account for about 50% of couples with infertility.1 Approximately 10 to 15% of infertile men suffer from azoospermia—complete absence of sperms in the ejaculate. Among these azoospermic patients, approximately 40% have complete obstruction i...

Although the technique of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has been a revolution in the alleviation of male infertility, the use of testicular sperm for ICSI was a formerly unseen breakthrough in the treatment of the azoospermic man with primary testicular failure. At the clinical level, different procedures of testicular sperm retrieval (conventional TESE, micro-TESE, FNA/TESA, MESA, PE...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the natural courses of mild, moderate and severe idiopathic oligozoospermia, and which factors or semen variables were of utmost importance in predicting the courses. METHODS A total of 208 men (age 29-47years) who were diagnosed with mild, moderate and severe idiopathic oligozoospermia in a 9-year-period between January 2000 and December 2008 were followed up for mo...