Obstructive azoospermia. Review uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Obstructive azoospermia accounts for 40% of azoospermia and results from obstruction of the excurrent ducts (due to many causes) at any location between the rete testis and the ejaculatory ducts. The diagnosis of obstructive azoospermia (OA) requires a stepwise approach to differentiate it from nonobstructive OA and to formulate management options. Localization of the site of obstruction relies on history, physical examination, and possibly laboratory, genetic, imaging tests, and intraoperative findings. The prospects for patients with OA are excellent given recent advances in microsurgical approaches and in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Successful outcomes are increasingly likely after microsurgical reconstruction techniques, permitting non-IVF pregnancies for many couples. When reconstruction is not an option, microsurgical sperm retrieval provides excellent outcomes for patients in conjunction with IVF and ICSI.

publication date

  • October 15, 2013

Research

keywords

  • Azoospermia

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84888306999

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.ucl.2013.08.013

PubMed ID

  • 24286769

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 41

issue

  • 1