[Microsurgical approaches to the treatment of obstructive azoospermia]

In the past 5 to 10 years, very few fields in modern medicine have changed so dramatically as reproductive medicine, especially for the treatment of male infertility. Advances have been made in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), refined microsurgical reconstructive techniques (vasovasostomy and vasoepididymostomy), and microsurgical techniques of surgical sperm retrieval from the epididymis and testis. All men with epididymal obstruction (obstructive azoospermia) now have the opportunity to father their own biological children. In this article, the authors reviewed the most updated microsurgical vasovasostomy, vasoepididymostomy techniques and surgical indications as well as the key factors for successful microsurgical treatment. They also predicted the future directions and discussed the advantages of microsurgical techniques, emphasized the significant roles of microsurgical training for urological doctors to treat male infertility.