Histologic pictures of male infertility in Yemeni patients

OBJECTIVE: To define subgroups of male infertility and frequency of focal normal spermatogenesis in multiple testicular biopsies of non-obstructive asoozpermia in Yemeni patients.

METHODS: A descriptive record based study of 485 cases of male infertility was carried out in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) center in Sana'a, Yemen during the period from 1st August 2000 to 30th December 2007. During histological analysis the sample was evaluated regarding the size of seminiferous tubules, the thickness of tubules, the relative number and types of germ cells, the degree of fibrosis, and presence of focal normal spermatogenesis. The results were commonly classified according to the used clinical practical classification.

RESULTS: Out of a total of 485 testicular biopsies, 164 (33.8%) cases showed germ cell aplasia. The fibrosis represented the lowest frequency being 93 (19.2%) cases. Obstructive asoozpermia was present in 99 (20.4%) cases, and maturation arrest in 116 (23.9%) cases. Focal normal spermatogenesis was found in 106 (27.5%) out of 385 cases of non-obstructive asoozpermia with higher frequency in fibrosis cases (36.6%).

CONCLUSION: We have shown in this study the different histopathologic patterns in our local patients, which correlate with some studies and shows discrepancies with others. Therefore, these findings are informative for concerned IVF centers to help the patients who are suffering from primary infertility.