Overview
Azoospermia is a condition when a man’s semen contains no measurable spermatozoa. Azoospermia is a major cause of infertility in men, with approximately 1% of the general male population being affected and contributing to approximately 10-25% of male factor infertility.
Diagnosing Azoospermia
A urologist typically completes a physical examination, medical history review, semen analysis and blood work to analyze hormone levels. At least two sperm samples with the absence of sperm are needed to diagnose azoospermia. If there are trace amounts of sperm in the sample, it is considered cryptozoospermia.
Types of Azoospermia
There are two types of azoospermia, obstructive and non-obstructive. In obstructive azoospermia, there is normal sperm production in the testicles, but a blockage in the reproductive tract will not allow sperm to get into the semen or the ejaculate cannot exit the body. In non-obstructive azoospermia, males do not produce enough sperm for a detectable amount to show up in their semen.
Causes of Azoospermia
Obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia can be caused by a variety of factors including:
- Infections/illness (either current infections or damage from previous infections/illnesses)
- Inflammation
- Structural abnormalities
- Scrotal or testicular trauma or injury
- Congenital conditions
- Hormonal issues
- Chemotherapy/cancer treatment
- Retrograde ejaculation- when the ejaculate travels into the bladder instead of out of the penis
- Vasectomy procedure
Depending on the cause, many cases are correctable with microsurgery. A urologist can help navigate the best treatment depending on the cause of the azoospermia. At Davies Fertility and IVF Specialists, we can recommend reputable, board-certified fertility urologists, in which we have the utmost of confidence.
If you have questions or would like to set up a consultation to discuss your fertility, please contact us to make an appointment here.