Imaging methods for seminal tract obstruction

Abstract

Differential diagnosis between obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia is an important task in clinical management of infertile patients. Chances of extracting sperm in obstructive azoospermia are high enough to inform the couple about favorable outcome of assisted reproductive technologies without resorting to donor sperm. Some forms of seminal tract obstruction can be corrected by microsurgical interventions or endoscopic resection of the ejaculatory ducts. Therefore, one of the objectives standing before imaging methods in reproductive andrology is the detection of these cases. In this literature review we present a detailed analysis of how to suspect and diagnose this form of azoospermia using imaging.

Keywords

• obstructive azoospermia
• diagnostics
• male infertility