BACKGROUND To determine the differences in sperm quality and results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles between three groups of male factor infertile couples: oligozoospermic, obstructive azoospermic and non-obstructive azoospermic. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this prospective cohort study, 628 male factor infertile couples who underwent ICSI cycles from April 2004 to March 2006 w...

BACKGROUND Glycosidases profusion in male reproductive fluids suggests a possible relationship with sperm function. Although Hexosaminidase (Hex) is the most active glycosidase in epididymal fluid and seminal plasma, as well as in spermatozoa, Glucosidase is considered a marker for epididymal function and azoospermia. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine Hex activity in seminal pl...

BACKGROUND The prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities is assumed to be higher in infertile men and inversely correlated with sperm concentration. Although guidelines advise karyotyping infertile men, karyotyping is costly, therefore it would be of benefit to identify men with the highest risk of chromosomal abnormalities, possibly by using parameters other than sperm concentration. The aim of ...

BACKGROUND Factors influencing success of sperm retrieval in azoospermic patients and outcome of ICSI were evaluated. METHODS AND RESULTS Uni- and multifactorial analysis were performed using logistic and stepwise analysis, following surgical sperm retrieval by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (55 cycles) or testicular sperm extraction (142 cycles) in 52 and 123 patients with obstruct...

Background: Azoospermia is the total absence of sperm cells from a patients semen sample after centrifugation. It could be obstructive or non-obstructive and its associated causes include chromosomal defects, infections, gonadotrophins imbalance, and etc in the patients. The objective is to determine the prevalence of primary testicular failure, germinal insufficiency, obstructive azoospermia a...

BACKGROUND Sperm extracted from testicular biopsies of azoospermic men can successfully be used for ICSI. The concern exists that testicular sperm from azoospermic men suffering from severe testicular failure may have a higher frequency of aneuploidy, which may lead to an increased risk for chromosomally abnormal offspring. METHODS Testicular sperm from patients showing spermatogenic failure ...

Dear Editor, Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis), a flagellated protozoan parasite emerged as one of the most common nonviral sexually transmitted infections worldwide, often inhabits the vagina, urethra, prostate, and epididymis.1 It has been estimated that there are more than 170 million new cases of T. vaginalis infections per year worldwide. However, current knowledge of T. vaginalis and t...

BACKGROUND About 15% of couples have infertility problems which 40% of them are related to the male factors. Genetic factors are candidate for about 10% of male infertility conditions. Among these, AZFa, AZFb, AZFc and AZFd regions on the Yq are considered most important for spermatogenesis. Microdeletions of these regions are thought to be involved in some cases of azoospermic or oligospermic ...

Some men with non-obstructive azoospermia harbour fully formed spermatozoa within their testicular tissue that can be used to achieve pregnancy via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Recently, Reijo et al. (1995) provided compelling evidence that the DAZ gene cluster is a strong candidate for one of the elusive azoospermia factors (AZF) located on the long arm of the Y chromosome. The DAZ...