Y Chromosome Microdeletion Testing
Male infertility may be associated with several clinical, hormonal, anatomical, environmental, or genetic factors. Semen analysis commonly forms part of the initial evaluation of male reproductive health and may identify conditions such as oligospermia or azoospermia.
Azoospermia refers to the absence of sperm in the ejaculate and may be classified as obstructive or non-obstructive depending on the underlying cause. Severe oligospermia refers to markedly reduced sperm concentration in semen analysis.
Y chromosome microdeletion (YCM) is a genetic condition involving small deletions within specific regions of the Y chromosome associated with spermatogenesis and male reproductive function.
The male-specific region of the Y chromosome contains important azoospermia factor (AZF) regions, commonly referred to as AZFa, AZFb, and AZFc. Deletions involving these regions may be associated with impaired sperm production and selected forms of male infertility.
The clinical significance and reproductive implications of Y chromosome microdeletions may vary depending on the region involved and the extent of the deletion. In selected clinical situations, sperm retrieval possibilities may differ between various AZF deletion patterns.
Y chromosome microdeletion testing is generally performed using molecular genetic laboratory techniques involving DNA extraction and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analysis of selected sequence-tagged sites (STS) within the Y chromosome.
Y chromosome microdeletion testing may be considered in selected men with severe oligospermia, non-obstructive azoospermia, recurrent reproductive concerns, or selected male infertility evaluation workflows depending on clinical assessment.
Y chromosome microdeletion testing at Krishna IVF forms part of broader reproductive genetics, molecular diagnostics, andrology, male infertility evaluation, and individualized reproductive medicine workflows.