Partial obstruction of the seminal path, a frequent cause of oligozoospermia in men

The objective of this clinical study was to determine the real frequencyand clinical importance of partial obstruction of the seminal path inpatients with oligozoospermia. We have designed a prospective clinicalstudy including men with oligozoospermia seen at an andrologicalconsultation in both private and institutional hospitals. A testicularbiopsy was done on all patients under local anaesthesia. A complete studyfor sterility was also done [hormonal determinations: follicle-stimulatinghormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, testicularultrasound, semen analysis, testicular Doppler ultrasound, etc.]. We havemade a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of testicular biopsy(percentage of tubules with Sertoli cell only or with hyalinization; meantubular diameter; number of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, youngspermatids, mature spermatids and Sertoli cells; and evaluation oftesticular interstitium: number of Leydig cell clusters, presence ofangiectasis, presence of perivascular inflammation). Sixty one per cent ofall oligozoospermia cases were obstructive. The principal cause ofobstructive oligozoospermia was the presence of testicular varicocele. Inobstructive oligozoospermia, the tubular diameter and number of maturespermatids are statistically significantly higher than in non- obstructiveoligozoospermia. Obstructive oligozoospermia is a frequent condition causedby partial obstruction of seminal path. A quantitative analysis of thetesticular biopsy is the only method of diagnosis.