Azoospermia is defined as having a sperm count of zero. Azoospermia is further categorized with the more challenging scenario being non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). This is never a diagnosis that a man is expecting to hear they have, but one that at AFRM Dr. Parviz Kavoussi treats week in, week out. NOA indicates the cells in the testicles are failing to produce sperm properly and often requires a high-level microsurgical attempt at a sperm retrieval known as a microdissection testicular sperm extraction which allows for many men to have sperm retrieved to use with IVF for an opportunity to father children with their own sperm. Dr. Kavoussi performs these procedures frequently with high success rates. As an experienced leader in the diagnosis and treatment of NOA he was recruited to co-author a study on global practice patterns by physicians caring for men with NOA. Dr. Kavoussi states, “Although this study revealed reasonable adherence to society guidelines on evaluating men with NOA, globally there is still a great deal of disparities in practice patterns for which standardization could benefit patients world-wide.”
