Azoospermia

From Food & Medicine Encyclopedia

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
Founder, WikiMD Wellnesspedia &
W8MD's weight loss doctor NYC
Philadelphia GLP-1 weight loss and GLP-1 clinic NYC

Azoospermia
Synonyms
Pronounce N/A
Specialty N/A
Symptoms Absence of sperm in semen
Complications Infertility
Onset
Duration
Types Obstructive azoospermia, Non-obstructive azoospermia
Causes Genetic disorders, Hormonal imbalance, Obstruction
Risks
Diagnosis Semen analysis, Testicular biopsy
Differential diagnosis
Prevention
Treatment Surgery, Hormone therapy, Assisted reproductive technology
Medication
Prognosis
Frequency Affects about 1% of the male population
Deaths N/A


Pronunciation[edit]

Azoospermia is pronounced AY-zoh-oh-SPER-mee-uh)

Definition[edit]

Azoospermia is a condition in which there are no sperm in the semen when a man ejaculates.

Semen analysis
Semen analysis

Causes[edit]

This may be because the man does not make sperm or because the sperm is blocked from entering the semen.

Hormonal causes[edit]

Azoospermia may be caused by hormone problems also.

Genetic causes[edit]

Certain genetic conditions

Vasectomy[edit]

History of previous vasectomy or other surgery, or other conditions.

Cancer treatments[edit]

Azoospermia may also be caused by certain cancer treatments.

Infertility[edit]

Azoospermia can cause infertility or inability to produce children.

Symptoms[edit]

Azoospermia usually presents with infertility, sometimes with reduced or loss of libido.

Diagnosis[edit]

Diagnosis is through history, physical examination, semen analysis, and imaging studies as needed. Check for history of hormone/steroid therapy, antibiotics, 5-ASA inhibitors (sulfasalazine), alpha-blockers, 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors, chemotherapeutic agents, pesticides, recreational drugs (marijuana, excessive alcohol), and heat exposure of the testes, prior surgeries, or trauma etc.

Treatment[edit]

Some conditions are treatable such as pre and post testicular azoospermia while testicular azoospermia is usually permanent.


Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Content may be inaccurate or outdated and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical decisions. Verify information with trusted sources such as CDC.gov and NIH.gov. By using this site, you agree that WikiMD is not liable for any outcomes related to its content. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.