We make a diagnosis of azoospermia when a man does not have sperm in his semen

Many people don’t realize that semen does not always contain sperm. This is true when a man has a diagnosis of azoospermia. About 1% of men and 10% of men with infertility have this condition. These men can typically ejaculate, but there is an absence of sperm in the semen. Because sperm is necessary for conception, this situation is a problem for couples who are trying to conceive.

At Fertility Specialists of Texas, our Dallas-Fort Worth fertility specialists offer testing to diagnose this male infertility cause. Our team of experts can also recommend treatments to help make parenthood possible.

What can cause an absence of sperm in the semen?

If a man has azoospermia, it could be due to an issue that prevents the testicles from making sperm. There could also be a problem that is preventing the sperm from leaving the body. When making a diagnosis, our Dallas-Fort Worth fertility specialists divide the condition into three main types.

• Pretesticular means the testicles are normal but cannot make sperm. Hormonal imbalances and damage from chemotherapy can cause this issue.
• Testicular occurs when an injury or a previous illness has damaged the testicles, and this damage is preventing sperm production.
• Post-testicular means the testicles can make sperm but a blockage or a problem with ejaculation is preventing the sperm from leaving the body.

Our doctors design customized treatment plans for each patient based on which type of azoospermia is present.

How do doctors diagnose and treat azoospermia?

Taking a medical history and ordering a semen analysis is the first step to make an accurate diagnosis. If the semen sample does not show any sperm on more than one occasion, the doctor will likely diagnose this condition.

The treatment plan to address an absence of sperm varies depending on what’s causing the problem. For example, a local urologist (a doctor specializing in the male reproductive tract) can surgically remove a blockage to treat post-testicular azoospermia.

In cases where there isn’t a blockage, our Dallas-Fort Worth fertility specialists may recommend a surgical procedure to remove sperm. A specialist can retrieve sperm from the tubes that come off the testicles or take the sperm directly from the testicles. Our team can then use this sperm as part of an IVF cycle with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to achieve pregnancy.

If you’d like to learn more about how we help patients with an absence of sperm, contact us to schedule an appointment.