This Assay can determine whether or not the genetic material responsible for Azoospermia or severe Oligozoospermia is present in the Y-Chromosome. Statistically, one in five men suffering from either of these conditions can site such genetic factors. All patients with Azoospermia or severe Oligozoospermia should be tested to determine etiology and to warn prospective ICSI patients (since these conditions are inheritable).

Specifically, the test analyzes 18 different loci on the Y-Chromosome. The buccal sample of the patient taken with a cotton swab, can be mailed to us for testing.

Infertile men with this condition don't need further evaluations or therapy since no treatment will alleviate this congenital cause.
Also, to warn prospective ICSI patients that their condition is transmissible to their sons.

Azoospermia and severe Oligozoospermia can have many causes, including congenital factors. Of these inherited determinants, the deletions in the Y-Chromosomes (Yq) is more frequent. The genes playing important roles in spermatogenesis are located on the long arm of the Y-Chromosomes or Yq 11.23. Consequently, any missing genetic material from within this area can directly result in Azoospermia or severe Oligozoospermia.

Should such a chromosomal dysfunction occur, the aliment has been categorized as a "Microdeletion in the Y-Chromosome", or "MYC" ("MIKE") for short. However, deletions of Yq that are large enough to be visible on karyotyping are uncommon in infertile males.

Studies have demonstrated that some infertile men with idiopathic Azoospermia or severe Oligozoospermia carry microdeletions in Yq not present in their fertile father or brothers.

More importantly, the transmission of such microdeletions from a severely Oligozoospermic man to his ICSI-derived son have been documented. In other words, father and son shared identical genetic defects. The grand father, however, was fertile and did not have microdeletions. These facts and other related findings show that ICSI transmits de novo microdeletions.

All patients with Azoospermia or severe Oligozoospermia should be tested for Microdeletions in the Y-Chromosomes for two primary reasons :

Estimates reports that one in five men (range between 3 to 30%) with idiopathic Azoospermia or severe Oligozoospermia have such microdeletions.

A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification, using primers for Y-specific sequence tagged sites, provides a rapid method for the screening of microdeletions in men with idiopathic infertility.

Y Chromosome