La actitud ante el paciente azoospérmico: la visión del urólogo

OBJECTIVES: Since first pregnancy after ICSI was achieved in 1992, the treatment and prognosis of severe male factor, i.e azoospermia, has radically changed. The objective of this article is to review the issue from the urologist-andrologist point of view. METHODS: We perform a short revision of the two types of azoospermia and diagnostic tests, and show the algorithm used in our centre for the management of patients with azoospermia. We review the techniques for spermatozoid recovery and surgical treatment of obstructive azoospermia because the role of the urologist is maximum in these aspects. Genetic anomalies in azoospermic patients is one of the issues analyzed in more detail for being one of the most important and of maximum interest currently. RESULTS: Nearly 1% of pregnancies in developed countries are achieved by assisted reproduction techniques, and genetic anomalies among newborns from ICSI cycles have increased to 1.6%, three times normal population. Genetic anomalies are tenfold in azoospermic patients in comparison to general population. We analyze the importance of these studies in patients with secretory azoospermia. We review the most frequent genetic anomalies associated with azoospermia and diagnostic tests employed. Its importance is based on this diagnosis allowing genetic counselling and pre-implant or prenatal diagnosis with the aim of trying to minimize genetic anomalies and disease transmission to next generations. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis and treatment of azoospermia continues to be one of the most thrilling challenges in the field of infertility, with promising research lines such as in vitro spermatogenesis from stem cells and autotransplantation of criopreserved cells in patients undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy.