Azoospermia

Azoospermia means no sperm are seen in the ejaculate, usually confirmed after centrifuging the sample and examining it carefully, and repeated on a second occasion before the diagnosis is accepted. It is broadly divided into obstructive azoospermia, where sperm are produced but blocked from reaching the ejaculate, and non-obstructive azoospermia, where sperm production itself is reduced or absent. A diagnosis of azoospermia does not mean fatherhood using one's own sperm is impossible: depending on the cause, options can include surgical correction of a blockage, hormone treatment, or surgical sperm retrieval directly from the testis or epididymis for use with ICSI. Evaluation typically includes hormone tests, scrotal ultrasound, and sometimes genetic tests such as karyotype or Y-chromosome microdeletion testing, alongside genetic counselling where relevant.

Also known as: zero sperm count, no sperm in semen, nil sperm

Last reviewed: 9 September 2026. Written by the Antega Editorial Team. General information only — always follow the advice of your own clinic, doctor or pharmacist.