Azoospermia

Azoospermia is the absence of sperm in a man's semen and affects 10-15% of men.

Causes

Obstruction or absence of the sperm ducts can be caused by:

Genetic conditions such as Klinefelter's syndrome

Congenital absence of the vas deferens common in cystic fibrosis gene carriers

Damage caused by seminal infections

Inflammatory processes such as epididymitis, prostatitis, parotiditis and varicocele

Surgeries or other trauma such as inguinal hernias, testicular trauma or vasectomy

Sperm production problems may be caused by:

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-related hormonal disturbances

Varicocele

Conditions of the testicles

Genetic conditions such as deletions of the Y-chromosome

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Symptoms

Azoospermia has no symptoms, so it is necessary to see a specialist for diagnosis.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis requires:

- Analysis of your medical history
- Genital examination
- Seminogram or semen analysis

Can I have a baby if I have azoospermia?

Sperm retrieval by epididymal aspiration or testicular biopsy is the fertility treatment of choice for achieving a baby in obstructive azoospermia.

because the number of sperm retrieved is usually relatively low, it is necessary to combine this technique with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in which one good quality sperm is sufficient to fertilise the egg in a specialised laboratory.

Come to our reproduction specialists and find the best alternative to have a baby at home.