Azoospermia: what is it?
It is an absence of sperm in the semen, therefore a cause of male infertility. About 10% of men consulting for infertility are affected by azoospermia. This disorder may be of congenital origin or appear later.
How does this disorder develop?
Azoospermia can be either obstructive (or excretory), that is, due to some obstruction in the ducts carrying semen; either secretory, that is to say due to a problem with the formation of spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubes.
The azoospermia of obstructive origin may be due to infectious causes (for example chlamydia on the epididymis which it is important to prevent).
Nonobstructive azoospermia may be due to genetic abnormalities, cryptorchidism (undescended testis in the scrotum), testicular infections, or environmental factors. It can also exceptionally reveal a hormonal deficit which can be treated.
In one in five cases, azoospermia is due to an abnormality in the number of chromosomes, an abnormality in the structure of the chromosomes, or an abnormality of a gene.
Having a child when you have azoospermia
Surgery for obstructive azoospermia in most cases restores normal sperm circulation.
Azoospermia of secretory origin are difficult to treat and can cause permanent sterility. In the context of a desire for a child, it is possible to perform a surgical puncture of spermatozoa in the epididymis or the testicles and to set up ICSI-type medically assisted procreation which consists of the injection of a single sperm in the oocyte.
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