🩺 Obstructive Azoospermia (OA)
Definition: A condition where sperm is produced but blocked from being ejaculated.
✅ Causes:
- Congenital issues: Missing or blocked ducts (CBAVD).
- Infections: Epididymitis, prostatitis.
- Surgery/trauma: Vasectomy or injury.
🩺 Obstructive Azoospermia: Overview
Obstructive Azoospermia (OA) is a condition in men where sperm is produced normally in the testes but is blocked from being ejaculated due to an obstruction in the reproductive tract. As a result, no sperm is found in the semen during ejaculation.
✅ Causes of Obstructive Azoospermia
- Congenital Conditions
- Congenital Bilateral Absence of the Vas Deferens (CBAVD) – often linked to cystic fibrosis.
- Genetic abnormalities causing blocked or missing sperm ducts.
- Infections or Inflammation
- Epididymitis or prostatitis can cause scarring and blockage.
- Prior Surgeries or Injury
- Vasectomy or trauma to the reproductive system.
- Cysts or Tumors
- Benign cysts or growths blocking the sperm ducts.
🔍 Symptoms
- No visible symptoms.
- Normal ejaculation but with no sperm in the semen.
- Sometimes, pain or swelling if linked to infection.
🧪 Diagnosis
- Semen Analysis: No sperm in the ejaculate.
- Hormone Testing: Normal FSH and testosterone levels (indicating sperm production is intact).
- Scrotal Ultrasound: To detect blockages or abnormalities.
- Testicular Biopsy: To confirm sperm production.
- Genetic Testing: To check for congenital issues like CFTR gene mutations.
💉 Treatment Options
- Surgical Correction:
- Vasovasostomy: Reversal of vasectomy or correction of vas deferens blockage.
- Vasoepididymostomy: Surgery to bypass the epididymal obstruction.
- Sperm Retrieval Procedures:
- TESA (Testicular Sperm Aspiration) – Needle extraction of sperm.
- PESA (Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration) – Extraction from the epididymis.
- Micro-TESE – Microsurgical sperm retrieval in severe cases.
- Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART):
- IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) with ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) using retrieved sperm.
🩻 Prognosis
- With successful sperm retrieval, IVF with ICSI offers a high chance of pregnancy.
- Surgical correction may restore natural fertility in some cases.