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Obstructive azoospermia

MedGen UID:
868703
•Concept ID:
C4023106
•
Disease or Syndrome
HPO: HP:0011962

Definition

Absence of any measurable level of sperm in his semen, resulting from post-testicular obstruction or retrograde ejaculation. This can be differentiated from obstructive azoospermia on the basis of testicular biopsy. [from HPO]

Conditions with this feature

Azoospermia, obstructive, with nephrolithiasis
MedGen UID:
1779119
•Concept ID:
C5542351
•
Disease or Syndrome
Obstructive azoospermia with nephrolithiasis (OAZON) is characterized by male infertility due to obstruction at the head of the epididymis, as well as hypercalciuria and kidney stones (Askari et al., 2019).
See: Condition Record
Azoospermia, obstructive, with nephrolithiasis

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Hormonal treatment for men with Non-obstructive Azoospermia: too many rationales, too little data.
Lira FNT Neto
Int Braz J Urol 2022 May-Jun;48(3):482-484. doi: 10.1590/S1677-5538.IBJU.2022.99.13.1. PMID: 35373946Free PMC Article
The management of infertility due to obstructive azoospermia.
Practice Committee of American Society for Reproductive Medicine in collaboration with Society for Male Reproduction and Urology
Fertil Steril 2008 Nov;90(5 Suppl):S121-4. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.08.096. PMID: 19007607
Report on management of obstructive azoospermia.
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Fertil Steril 2006 Nov;86(5 Suppl 1):S259-63. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.08.031. PMID: 17055837

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Molecular mechanisms of cellular dysfunction in testes from men with non-obstructive azoospermia.
Piechka A, Sparanese S, Witherspoon L, Hach F, Flannigan R
Nat Rev Urol 2024 Feb;21(2):67-90. Epub 2023 Dec 18 doi: 10.1038/s41585-023-00837-9. PMID: 38110528
Macrophage-Related Testicular Inflammation in Individuals with Idiopathic Non-Obstructive Azoospermia: A Single-Cell Analysis.
Xia P, Ouyang S, Shen R, Guo Z, Zhang G, Liu X, Yang X, Xie K, Wang D
Int J Mol Sci 2023 May 16;24(10) doi: 10.3390/ijms24108819. PMID: 37240164Free PMC Article
Genetic Architecture of Azoospermia-Time to Advance the Standard of Care.
Wyrwoll MJ, Köckerling N, Vockel M, Dicke AK, Rotte N, Pohl E, Emich J, Wöste M, Ruckert C, Wabschke R, Seggewiss J, Ledig S, Tewes AC, Stratis Y, Cremers JF, Wistuba J, Krallmann C, Kliesch S, Röpke A, Stallmeyer B, Friedrich C, Tüttelmann F
Eur Urol 2023 May;83(5):452-462. Epub 2022 Jun 8 doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2022.05.011. PMID: 35690514
Iatrogenic effects of radical cancer surgery on male fertility.
Huang Z, Berg WT
Fertil Steril 2021 Sep;116(3):625-629. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.07.1200. PMID: 34462097
Non-obstructive azoospermia and clinical varicocele: therapeutic options.
Elzanaty S
Int Urol Nephrol 2013 Jun;45(3):669-74. Epub 2013 Apr 20 doi: 10.1007/s11255-013-0443-x. PMID: 23604704

Diagnosis

Genetic Architecture of Azoospermia-Time to Advance the Standard of Care.
Wyrwoll MJ, Köckerling N, Vockel M, Dicke AK, Rotte N, Pohl E, Emich J, Wöste M, Ruckert C, Wabschke R, Seggewiss J, Ledig S, Tewes AC, Stratis Y, Cremers JF, Wistuba J, Krallmann C, Kliesch S, Röpke A, Stallmeyer B, Friedrich C, Tüttelmann F
Eur Urol 2023 May;83(5):452-462. Epub 2022 Jun 8 doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2022.05.011. PMID: 35690514
Genetics of Azoospermia.
Cioppi F, Rosta V, Krausz C
Int J Mol Sci 2021 Mar 23;22(6) doi: 10.3390/ijms22063264. PMID: 33806855Free PMC Article
Molecular genetics of infertility: loss-of-function mutations in humans and corresponding knockout/mutated mice.
Jiao SY, Yang YH, Chen SR
Hum Reprod Update 2021 Jan 4;27(1):154-189. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa034. PMID: 33118031
Genetics of male infertility.
Krausz C, Riera-Escamilla A
Nat Rev Urol 2018 Jun;15(6):369-384. doi: 10.1038/s41585-018-0003-3. PMID: 29622783
Obstructive azoospermia.
Wosnitzer MS, Goldstein M
Urol Clin North Am 2014 Feb;41(1):83-95. Epub 2013 Oct 15 doi: 10.1016/j.ucl.2013.08.013. PMID: 24286769

Therapy

Iatrogenic effects of radical cancer surgery on male fertility.
Huang Z, Berg WT
Fertil Steril 2021 Sep;116(3):625-629. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.07.1200. PMID: 34462097
The evolution and refinement of vasoepididymostomy techniques.
Chan PT
Asian J Androl 2013 Jan;15(1):49-55. Epub 2012 Nov 19 doi: 10.1038/aja.2012.80. PMID: 23160266Free PMC Article
Sperm retrieval for obstructive azoospermia.
Practice Committee of American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Fertil Steril 2008 Nov;90(5 Suppl):S213-8. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2008.08.047. PMID: 19007634
Report on management of obstructive azoospermia.
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Fertil Steril 2006 Nov;86(5 Suppl 1):S259-63. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.08.031. PMID: 17055837
Sperm retrieval for obstructive azoospermia.
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Fertil Steril 2006 Nov;86(5 Suppl 1):S115-20. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2006.07.1490. PMID: 17055803

Prognosis

Genetic Architecture of Azoospermia-Time to Advance the Standard of Care.
Wyrwoll MJ, Köckerling N, Vockel M, Dicke AK, Rotte N, Pohl E, Emich J, Wöste M, Ruckert C, Wabschke R, Seggewiss J, Ledig S, Tewes AC, Stratis Y, Cremers JF, Wistuba J, Krallmann C, Kliesch S, Röpke A, Stallmeyer B, Friedrich C, Tüttelmann F
Eur Urol 2023 May;83(5):452-462. Epub 2022 Jun 8 doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2022.05.011. PMID: 35690514
Evaluation of seminal plasma HSPA2 protein as a biomarker of human spermatogenesis status.
Nowicka-Bauer K, Malcher A, Włoczkowska O, Kamieniczna M, Olszewska M, Kurpisz MK
Reprod Biol 2022 Mar;22(1):100597. Epub 2021 Dec 24 doi: 10.1016/j.repbio.2021.100597. PMID: 34959194
Sertoli Cells Only Syndrome - Case Report.
Bartmann A
JBRA Assist Reprod 2021 Apr 27;25(2):331-323. doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20200078. PMID: 33565294Free PMC Article
Molecular genetics of infertility: loss-of-function mutations in humans and corresponding knockout/mutated mice.
Jiao SY, Yang YH, Chen SR
Hum Reprod Update 2021 Jan 4;27(1):154-189. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa034. PMID: 33118031
The Y chromosome.
Schlegel PN
Reprod Biomed Online 2002 Jul-Aug;5(1):22-5. doi: 10.1016/s1472-6483(10)61592-1. PMID: 12470541

Clinical prediction guides

Macrophage-Related Testicular Inflammation in Individuals with Idiopathic Non-Obstructive Azoospermia: A Single-Cell Analysis.
Xia P, Ouyang S, Shen R, Guo Z, Zhang G, Liu X, Yang X, Xie K, Wang D
Int J Mol Sci 2023 May 16;24(10) doi: 10.3390/ijms24108819. PMID: 37240164Free PMC Article
Genetic Architecture of Azoospermia-Time to Advance the Standard of Care.
Wyrwoll MJ, Köckerling N, Vockel M, Dicke AK, Rotte N, Pohl E, Emich J, Wöste M, Ruckert C, Wabschke R, Seggewiss J, Ledig S, Tewes AC, Stratis Y, Cremers JF, Wistuba J, Krallmann C, Kliesch S, Röpke A, Stallmeyer B, Friedrich C, Tüttelmann F
Eur Urol 2023 May;83(5):452-462. Epub 2022 Jun 8 doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2022.05.011. PMID: 35690514
Molecular genetics of infertility: loss-of-function mutations in humans and corresponding knockout/mutated mice.
Jiao SY, Yang YH, Chen SR
Hum Reprod Update 2021 Jan 4;27(1):154-189. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa034. PMID: 33118031
Molecular Pathology of Cryptorchidism-Induced Infertility.
Docampo MJ, Hadziselimovic F
Sex Dev 2015;9(5):269-78. Epub 2015 Dec 8 doi: 10.1159/000442059. PMID: 26642196
Non-obstructive azoospermia and clinical varicocele: therapeutic options.
Elzanaty S
Int Urol Nephrol 2013 Jun;45(3):669-74. Epub 2013 Apr 20 doi: 10.1007/s11255-013-0443-x. PMID: 23604704

Recent systematic reviews

Does hormonal therapy improve sperm retrieval rates in men with non-obstructive azoospermia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Tharakan T, Corona G, Foran D, Salonia A, Sofikitis N, Giwercman A, Krausz C, Yap T, Jayasena CN, Minhas S
Hum Reprod Update 2022 Aug 25;28(5):609-628. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmac016. PMID: 35526153Free PMC Article
Does acquired obstructive azoospermia have less impact than congenital azoospermia on ICSI results? Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lopes LS, Baccaglini W, von Muhlen B, Placco Araujo Glina F, Albertini Daiuto S, Linck Pazeto C, Glina S
Andrologia 2021 Aug;53(7):e14096. Epub 2021 May 12 doi: 10.1111/and.14096. PMID: 33982319
Impact on using cryopreservation of testicular or epididymal sperm upon intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome in men with obstructive azoospermia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Liu H, Xie Y, Gao L, Sun X, Liang X, Deng C, Gao Y, Liu G
J Assist Reprod Genet 2020 Nov;37(11):2643-2651. Epub 2020 Sep 15 doi: 10.1007/s10815-020-01940-1. PMID: 32935172Free PMC Article
Sperm recovery and ICSI outcomes in men with non-obstructive azoospermia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Corona G, Minhas S, Giwercman A, Bettocchi C, Dinkelman-Smit M, Dohle G, Fusco F, Kadioglou A, Kliesch S, Kopa Z, Krausz C, Pelliccione F, Pizzocaro A, Rassweiler J, Verze P, Vignozzi L, Weidner W, Maggi M, Sofikitis N
Hum Reprod Update 2019 Nov 5;25(6):733-757. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmz028. PMID: 31665451
Sperm recovery and ICSI outcomes in Klinefelter syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Corona G, Pizzocaro A, Lanfranco F, Garolla A, Pelliccione F, Vignozzi L, Ferlin A, Foresta C, Jannini EA, Maggi M, Lenzi A, Pasquali D, Francavilla S; Klinefelter ItaliaN Group (KING)
Hum Reprod Update 2017 May 1;23(3):265-275. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmx008. PMID: 28379559

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