[Frequency and etiology of azoospermia in the study of infertile couples]

One out of ten couples seek some kind of treatment for infertility of which males are infertile between 30-50%. Azoospermia has been reported in the range of 10 to 20% of cases.

We reviewed 331 cases seen at the clinic of Reproductive Biology of the Hospital Juárez de México, SSA, from January 1993 through February 2000. 66 patients were found with azoospermia (19.93%). Studies performed were: seminogram, testicular and transrectal ultrasonography, cariotype, deferentovesiculography and testicular biopsy. Radioimmunoassay of gonadotropins (FSH, LH) and testosterone was also practiced.

Twelve patients (18.18%) were excluded either for desertion or incompletion of studies. The etiology of azoospermia of remainder 54 cases was: secretory (85.19%) of which 41.3% was idiopathic, 10.9% had germ cells aplasia, 10.9% varichocele, 10.9% Klinefelter syndrome. Secondary secreting azoospermia was found in two cases with Kallman's syndrome one patient had excretory and 7 obstructive azoospermia.

Azoospermia was diagnosed in 19.93% (n = 54) with a mean age of 30 years. 85.19% had primary secretory azoospermia with FSH & LH hypergonadotropism in 85.8 and 56.4% respectively (p < 0.05). Obstructive azoospermia was seen in 12.96% and only one case (1.85%) presented excretory azoospermia.