What is the Y chromosome microdeletion?
Y chromosome microdeletion can be detected in 10-15% of men with Azoospermia and 5-10% of men with severe Oligozoospermia. The specification of the deletion helps the assisted reproduction treatment and the options are:
- ICSI treatment
- Sperm cells cryopreservation for patients with Oligozoospermia with a higher risk of progressive loss of sperm concentration in the ejaculate
- Testicular Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (TESA)
- Using a sperm donor

Y chromosome microdeletion means missing genes in particular areas of the Y chromosome, connected with the process of sperm production. The diagnosis is given through polymerase chase reaction (PCR) of DNA, which includes analysis of different parts of the Y chromosome - AZFa, AZFb, AZFc:

- АZF (Azoospermia Factor Region): There is sperm production, but weak and the sperm cells have a mutation in the Y chromosome. There is a relation - fewer the sperm cells, higher the frequency of deletion. After pregnancy, the Y chromosome deletion is transmitted to the male offspring (from father to son).

- Deletions in the AZFa part are usually connected with Azoospermia and rarely with Oligozoospermia.

- Deletions in the AZFb part are connected with blockage of sperm production at spermatocyte level and are usually combined with Azoospermia, severe to a mild form of Oligospermia and Normospermia.

- Deletions in the AZFc part are connected with Azoospermia, severe to a mild form of Oligospermia, and production of insufficiently mature sperm cells.

- Microdeletions on AZFa and AZFb lead to the inferior prognosis for sperm collection through TESA. The deletions in AZFc (80% of all the cases) have a chance for enough sperm collection for IVF/ICSI procedure.

When is required?
The testing for Y chromosome microdeletion is required in cases with:
- Unexplained infertility
- Azoospermia or severe Oligozoospermia
- Assisted reproductive techniques application

Do I need to book an appointment?
The testing is through blood example, and there is no need for preliminary booking of an appointment.

Dr. Shterev Hospital team has more than 30 years of experience in the field of assisted reproductive techniques. For that period, the specialists managed to help thousands of women and couples to feel the greater joy - the happy laughter of their one baby. More than 10 000 are the children born after different assisted reproductive techniques and modern laboratory methods for infertility treatment, applied by all the gynecologists, embryologists, and biologists in Dr. Shterev Hospital.