ABSTRACT
Background: Approximately 15% of couples are infertile with the male factor explaining approximately 50% of the cases. One of the main genetic factors playing a role in male infertility is Y chromosomal microdeletions within the proximal long arm of the Y chromosome [Yq11], named the azoospermia factor [AZF] region. Recent studies have shown there is a potential connection between deletions of the AZF region and recurrent pregnancy loss [RPL]. The aim of this study is to examine this association by characterizing AZF microdeletions in two infertile groups: in men with non-obstructive infertility and in men with wives displaying RPL
Materials and Methods: In this is a case-control study, genomic DNA was extracted from 80 male samples including 40 non-obstructive infertile men, 20 males from couples with RPL and 20 fertile males as controls. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify 19 sequence tagged sites [STS] to detect AZF microdeletions. Differences between the case and control groups were evaluated by two-tailed unpaired t test. P<0.05 were considered statistically significant
Results: Only one subject was detected to have Y chromosome microdeletions in SY254, SY157 and SY255 among the 40 men with non-obstructive infertility. No microdeletion was detected in the males with wives displaying RPL and in 20 control males. Y chromosome microdeletion was neither significantly associated with non-obstructive infertility [P=0.48] nor with recurrent pregnancy loss
Conclusion: Performing Testing for Y chromosome microdeletions in men with non-obstructive infertility and couples with RPL remains inconclusive in this study