title: Novel concepts in male factor infertility: clinical and laboratory perspectives.
abstract: In recent years, the management of male factor infertility has undergone important changes with the introduction of novel concepts, advanced testing, and therapeutic interventions. This review highlights some of these changes and discusses their impact to routine clinical practice. First, we discuss the recent changes in the World Health Organization (WHO) laboratory methods and reference values for the examination of human semen. Second, we examine the role of sperm chromatin integrity tests in light of increasing evidence of the detrimental effect of sperm DNA fragmentation on reproductive outcomes. Third, we summarize the main findings of varicocele-related infertility and the outcomes of microsurgical varicocele repair to different case scenarios. Lastly, we critically discuss the current management of men with nonobstructive azoospermia seeking fertility and the new opportunities that emerged to help these men achieve biological fatherhood.
authors.affiliation: ANDROFERT, Andrology and Human Reproduction Clinic, Referral Center for Male Reproduction, Av. Dr. Heitor Penteado, 1464, Campinas, SP, 13075-460, Brazil. s.esteves@androfert.com.br.
authors.forename: Sandro C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Esteves
mesh_terms: D053713:Azoospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin
keywords: Andrology; Male infertility; Microsurgery; Nonobstructive azoospermia; Semen analysis; Sperm DNA fragmentation; Varicocele