Differentiation between nonobstructive azoospermia and obstructive azoospermia: then and now

Male infertility has seen an increase in prevalence with cases of azoospermia estimated to affect 10%–15% of infertile men. Confirmation of azoospermia subsequently necessitates an early causal differentiation between obstructive azoospermia (OA) and nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Although less c...

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Main Authors: Logan Hubbard, Amarnath Rambhatla, Giovanni M Colpi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-05-01
Series:Asian Journal of Andrology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/aja202475
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author Logan Hubbard
Amarnath Rambhatla
Giovanni M Colpi
author_facet Logan Hubbard
Amarnath Rambhatla
Giovanni M Colpi
author_sort Logan Hubbard
collection DOAJ
description Male infertility has seen an increase in prevalence with cases of azoospermia estimated to affect 10%–15% of infertile men. Confirmation of azoospermia subsequently necessitates an early causal differentiation between obstructive azoospermia (OA) and nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Although less common when compared to NOA, OA can represent upward 20%–40% of cases of azoospermia. While there are a multitude of etiologies responsible for causing NOA and OA, correctly distinguishing between the two types of azoospermia has profound implications in managing the infertile male. This review represents an amalgamation of the current guidelines and literature which will supply the reproductive physician with a diagnostic armamentarium to properly distinguish between NOA and OA, therefore providing the best possible care to the infertile couple.
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publisher Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
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spelling doaj-art-9ee93badb6f142c59deb36e690813d672025-08-20T02:01:57ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsAsian Journal of Andrology1008-682X1745-72622025-05-0127329830610.4103/aja202475Differentiation between nonobstructive azoospermia and obstructive azoospermia: then and nowLogan HubbardAmarnath RambhatlaGiovanni M ColpiMale infertility has seen an increase in prevalence with cases of azoospermia estimated to affect 10%–15% of infertile men. Confirmation of azoospermia subsequently necessitates an early causal differentiation between obstructive azoospermia (OA) and nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Although less common when compared to NOA, OA can represent upward 20%–40% of cases of azoospermia. While there are a multitude of etiologies responsible for causing NOA and OA, correctly distinguishing between the two types of azoospermia has profound implications in managing the infertile male. This review represents an amalgamation of the current guidelines and literature which will supply the reproductive physician with a diagnostic armamentarium to properly distinguish between NOA and OA, therefore providing the best possible care to the infertile couple.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/aja202475male factor infertilitynonobstructive azoospermiaobstructive azoospermia
spellingShingle Logan Hubbard
Amarnath Rambhatla
Giovanni M Colpi
Differentiation between nonobstructive azoospermia and obstructive azoospermia: then and now
Asian Journal of Andrology
male factor infertility
nonobstructive azoospermia
obstructive azoospermia
title Differentiation between nonobstructive azoospermia and obstructive azoospermia: then and now
title_full Differentiation between nonobstructive azoospermia and obstructive azoospermia: then and now
title_fullStr Differentiation between nonobstructive azoospermia and obstructive azoospermia: then and now
title_full_unstemmed Differentiation between nonobstructive azoospermia and obstructive azoospermia: then and now
title_short Differentiation between nonobstructive azoospermia and obstructive azoospermia: then and now
title_sort differentiation between nonobstructive azoospermia and obstructive azoospermia then and now
topic male factor infertility
nonobstructive azoospermia
obstructive azoospermia
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/aja202475
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AT giovannimcolpi differentiationbetweennonobstructiveazoospermiaandobstructiveazoospermiathenandnow