Azoospermia

Azoospermia is the complete absence of sperm in the neat and centrifuged sample of semen. It is always important to remember that the semen analysis has to be repeated at least twice if a diagnosis of Azoospermia is to be entertained. The Etiology of Azoospermia can either be Obstructive or Non-Obstructive.

In Obstructive Azoospermia there is an obstruction to the path the sperm travels from the testis to the penis. The obstruction could be in the testis, the epidydymis, the vas deferens (the vas could also be absent) or the ejaculatory duct.

Obstructive Azoospermia

Fructose is an important component of semen which is produced by the seminal vesicles. Any obstruction / aplasia or absence of seminal vesicles will result in its absence.

CONDITION	S.FSH	TESTES	SE.VOL	FRUCT
Ej d obst	Norml	Norml	Vlow	Absnt
V apl	Norml	Norml	Vlow	Absnt
V obst	Norml	Norml	Vlow	Absnt
Ep obst	Norml	Norml	Vlow	Absnt
T obst	Norml	Norml	Vlow	Absnt

Non Obstructive Azoospermia

In Non Obstructive Azoospermia, there is complete absence of spermatozoa with no obvious obstruction. This is indicative of Primary Testicular failure or Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism . An entity called borderline Azoospermia may also be present.

CONDITION	S.FSH	TESTES	SE.VOL	FEATURE
Hypo gon. Hypogonadis	Low or undetectable	Small	Normal	Hypo / anosmia
Semin tub failure	Raised	Small	Normal	–
Border lin Azoo	Normal, mild elevatn	Normal, Small	Norml	Hist: Mat arrest / Hvbosper

Medical Management of Azoospermia

In patients with Azoospermia due to Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism, treatment with hormones like HMG and HCG will help.

Surgical Treatment for Azoospermia

In Obstructive Azoospermia with epidydymal obstruction, various sperm retrieval techniques like Micro Epidydymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA), and Percutaneous Epidydymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA) are used. Reproductive microsurgery like Vaso Epidydymal Anastamosis, Vasovasal Anastomosis and Vaso Testicular Anastomosis are offered depending on the level of obstruction. In Non Obstructive Azoospermia Sperm Retrieval from the testis is planned by means of Testis Biopsy, Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and Micro TESE. Typically, the yield from the testis is less than that of Obstructive Azoospermia. The spermatozoa obtained by these retrieval techniques are used for ICSI.