Chromosomal abnormalities in 1663 infertile men with azoospermia: the clinical consequences (original) (raw)

What is the prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities in azoospermic men and what are the clinical consequences in terms of increased risk for absent spermatogenesis, miscarriages and offspring with congenital malformations? SUMMARY ANSWER: The prevalence of chromosomal abnormalities in azoospermia was 14.4%, and the number of azoospermic men needed to be screened (NNS) to identify one man with a chromosomal abnormality with increased risk for absence of spermatogenesis was 72, to prevent one miscarriage 370-739 and to prevent one child with congenital malformations 4751-23 757. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Infertility guidelines worldwide advise screening of non-iatrogenic azoospermic men for chromosomal abnormalities, but only few data are available on the clinical consequences of this screening strategy.