Background: Varicoceles are vascular lesions of the pampiniform plexus and the most common identifiable abnormality found in men being evaluated for infertility. There are some reports in the literature indicating that varicocele may be a progressive lesion, however, this remains a controversial subject. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of varicocele in men with primary versus secondary infertility.

Materials and Methods: The records of 2234 consecutive couples with male factor infertility, refering to two infertility centers were studied. The incidence of varicoceles and also some other factors affecting male infertility were assessed in these patients.

Results: The frequency of primary and secondary infertility were 82.2% and 17.8%, respectively. The mean age of the men with primary infertility and their wives were 30.2 and 26.0 years, respectively. The men with secondary infertility and their wives were significantly older. (33.8 and 29.1 years, respectively). The incidence of varicoceles was not significantly different among the men with primary versus secondary infertility (42.4 and 43.5%, respectively).

Conclusion: The results of this study do not support the progressive adverse effect of varicoceles on men fertility overtime.

Background: Nowadays, cryopreservation of human sperm is considered as a common technique for treating infertility. Although cryopreservation causes a decrease in sperm motility and viability in infertile men, the effect of freezing the sperm by vitrification in infertile men has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitrification on some parameters of sperm including motility, morphology, viability, count and apoptosis after thawing in infertile men.

 Materials and Methods: Semen samples (No=17) of participants referring to Clinical Center for Infertility of Yazd were collected by masturbation. Semen analysis was performed according to WHO standards. The smears provided were fixed for TUNEL staining. Some samples directly cryopreserved by cryoloope method and stored for at least 7 days. After thawing, samples were evaluated for sperm parameters. Data obtained before and after the vitrification were compared using paired t-test and Willcaxon statistical tests.

Results: A significant decrease in viability and morphology of the sperm and an increase in the rate of apoptosis were observed after vitrification. The percent of apoptosis was negatively correlated with normal parameters of spermatozoa (especially progressive motility and viability). Conclusion: The results indicate that vitrification has a detrimental effect on sperm parameters and apoptosis rate in infertile men. However, the rate of apoptosis in this method was lower than that in other freezing methods.

Background: The Y-chromosome azoospermic factor (AZF) regions consist of genes whose specific roles and functions in spermatogenesis have not been completely clarified. Hence, recognition of the association between AZF microdeletions and male infertility has suggestions for the diagnosis, treatment, and genetic counseling among infertile patients.

Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 47 infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermic and normal karyotypes referred to infertility center of Alzahra hospital in Tabriz. Molecular AZF screening technique was performed on the genomic DNA from peripheral blood samples. Multiplex PCR and two different sets of sequence-tagged sites (STS) were used to detect the microdeletions in Y-chromosomal AZF regions and the Y specific sequences.

Results: Seventeen (36.17%) out of 47 infertile men had deletions in the AZFc and AZFd regions (P<0.05). Among the 17 azoospermic subjects harbouring Y chromosome microdeletions, fourteen were detected in AZFc, two in AZFc+d and one in AZFd regions. Therefore, microdelitions in the AZF regions have a significant effect on azospermia occurrence in the infertile men.

Conclusion: Y-chromosome microdeletion analysis can be recommended as an important molecular test among infertile males to obtain reliable genetic information before the administration of assisted-reproductive techniques. It will help to decrease the cost and technical difficulty of the procedure.