View clinical trials related to Azoospermia, Nonobstructive.
Filter by:Measurement of clusterin level in the semen of infertile males undergoing testicular sperm extraction.
In the absence of sperm in the semen (azoospermia), there is no chance of natural paternity. It is found in about 1% of men and is either due to an obstruction of the seminal tracks (obstructive azoospermia (OA)) in 1/3 of the cases, or a spermatogenic failure (non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA)) in 2/3 of the cases. To date, no medical treatment had proved its efficiency to induce spermatogenesis in case of NOA. The development of Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in 1992 allowed to obtain pregnancies from a small number of spermatozoa. The next year, testicular sperms were extracted from testicular tissue obtained surgically in cases of OA , allowing paternity for azoospermic men. In case of NOA, TESE allowed to obtain few sperms in an unexpected number of cases. It was shown that spermatogenesis remains active in rare portions of seminiferous tubules, a phenomenon called focal spermatogenesis, which allows to extract testicular sperms with an average SRR of 50%, and to obtain pregnancy by ICSI. Thus, TESE-ICSI revolutionized the prognosis of NOA, however, half of the cases of NOA had no sperm extracted and remained sterile . Since sperm donation and adoption are unacceptable for several of these couples, there is a real demand for additional treatment. Two ways to improve chances of paternity in case of NOA are currently discussed: 1. Proceed to a second attempt of TESE. Since the first attempt could have missed a focus of active spermatogenesis, the chance for a positive second TESE is not null even. Reviewing the few articles published on this issue , the SRR for the second attempt, after a first negative attempt averaged 25%. 2. Based upon the decrease of testosterone production within the testis in case of NOA and the potential increased of the focal spermatogenesis by gonadotropins, few reports of hormonal therapy in case of NOA have been published and suggested a positive effect of hormonal therapy. This prompted us to develop this clinical trial to investigate the effect of Clomiphene Citrate versus placebo on the results of a second TESE in NOA. Results of hormonal therapy in case of NOA were heterogeneous and of poor methodological quality, none was randomized versus placebo: Anti-aromatases or Gonadotropins administered before the first TESE or the second TESE gave positive results. Hussein at al in 2013, suggested a positive effect of Clomiphene citrate (CC), administrated before the first TESE (57% of the CC treated group versus 33.6% in not treated group) but with drop out of patient positive to sperm analysis. However, in these positive studies, sample sizes were small or selected patients on hormonal status or histology criteria suggesting subgroup of favourable NOA. Thus, there is no strong evaluation of the interest of hormonal treatment in NOA, after a negative first TESE. The investigators decided to evaluate the effect of the CC, the most convincing and convenient hormonal treatment, in patients with negative first TESE for NOA. It is of main interest to known if CC could enhance the SRR of a second TESE, that is the ultimate possibility to have their own child for these patients.
Azoospermia is complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate. It accounts for 10-15% of male infertility cases. It is classified as obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). NOA constitutes 60% of all cases of azoospermia. Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) for intracytoplas¬mic sperm injection (ICSI) was first introduced for treatment of obstructive azoospermia in 1993. Soon afterwards testicular sperm were retrieved successfully and used in ICSI in cases of NOA. In the NOA cases, TESE combined with ICSI has been proven to be an acceptable line of treatment. Microdissection TESE may have some theoretical benefits over conventional TESE, but uncertainty exists about its superiority. During a conventional TESE procedure, the testis is exposed through a small incision and one or multiple biopsies are taken blindly. Micro TESE was first introduced in 1999. In this technique, the tunica albuginea is widely opened and examination of the testicular tissue is carried out at 20-25× magnification under an operating microscope allowing visualization of whitish, larger and more opaque tubuli. The concept of this technique is that these tubuli are more likely to contain active spermatogenesis. also no secure clinical predictors of (SR) are demonstrated for both procedures.The recovery of spermatozoa is successful in only 50% of cases and therefore the ability to predict those patients with a high probability of achieving a successful sperm retrieval would be of great value in counselling the patient and his partner . There is no single clinical finding or investigation that can accurately predict the outcome of TESE.An unsuccessful sperm recovery has important emotional and financial implications so objective counselling based on predictive factors may offer realistic expectations for both the couple and physician.