Discovery of spermatozoa during the 17 th century led to developing technologies for semen analysis in the early 1900s, and then, standard techniques were implemented during the 20 th century. Semen analysis has a pivotal role in the male infertility evaluation, and azoospermia is an important finding. Azoospermia is identified in 15% of infertile men. However, the accurate laboratory assessment of azoospermia poses certain technical challenges. Laboratories currently perform semen assessment with great variability; thus, a standard method should be used. Planning suitable management and determining the cause of infertility require a precise evaluation of azoospermia. This review aims to address the definition of azoospermia and highlight laboratory methods in the assessments of azoospermia. Basic methods such as centrifugation, repeat pellet analysis, and staining and advanced methods such as genetic testing and biomarkers have been discussed. These methods have helped in standardizing the protocol for accurate azoospermia assessments with less variability.
Humans ; Azoospermia/genetics* ; Male ; Semen Analysis/methods* ; Andrology/methods*

Since the early days of assisted reproductive technology (ART), the importance of sperm processing, employed to separate the motile, morphologically normal sperm from the semen, has been shown to be beneficial. The aim of the semen processing technique has been to remove seminal plasma and facilitate capacitation. Additionally, the presence of leukocytes, bacteria, and dead spermatozoa has been shown to be detrimental as it may cause oxidative stress that has an adverse effect on oocyte fertilization and embryo development. Hence, removal of leukocytes, bacteria, and dead spermatozoa is an important step of sperm processing for assisted reproduction. Currently, several sperm processing techniques have been evolved and optimized in the field of assisted reproduction. The requirements for in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and testicular sperm extraction (TESE) are different than those of intrauterine insemination (IUI). The yield of as many motile, morphologically normal sperm as possible is a prerequisite for the success of IVF insemination procedure. In ICSI, where injection of a single spermatozoon into the oocyte is performed by the embryologist, sperm selection techniques play a crucial role in the ICSI procedure. Finally, sperm retrieval in TESE samples with very low number of sperm may be challenging and requires extra care during sample processing. Additionally, sperm cryopreservation is necessary in TESE cases in order to avoid multiple biopsies.
Humans ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic/methods* ; Male ; Fertilization in Vitro/methods* ; Sperm Retrieval ; Andrology/methods* ; Cryopreservation ; Female ; Spermatozoa

Researches on the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of the disease-syndrome combination approach in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine are becoming a hot spot in andrology, but many recent studies of this kind have failed to explain the connotation of integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in andrology. Related existing problems include repeated researches into the same indexes of action mechanisms of different therapeutic principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Chinese herbal compound and special prescriptions, studies focusing on individual diseases but ignoring symptoms, immature syndrome models for studies of mechanisms, and too much attention to uncertain or immature target mechanisms. The stress should be placed on the action mechanisms of Chinese herbal compound and special prescriptions on male diseases and, what is more important, on the clarification of the essential principles of differentiation and treatment of TCM syndromes. In the recent years, proteomics, genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics have shed some light upon researches into the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of the disease-syndrome combination approach in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in andrology. An insight into the TCM syndrome, a macroscopic inductive analysis, and a comprehension of such microcosmic aspects as the gene, protein, metabolism and metagenome may contribute to some breakthroughs and new ideas in the studies of disease-syndrome combination in integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine in andrology.
Andrology ; methods ; organization & administration ; Biomedical Research ; Combined Modality Therapy ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Genomics ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Metabolomics ; Proteomics ; Syndrome ; Transcriptome

Andrology is an ancient branch of science which has gained a new development in the recent years and therefore has both traditional and modern characteristics. On the one hand, andrology keeps benefiting from the achievements of modern medicine and, on the other hand, it relies on the support of the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). An integration of Chinese and Western medical principles may further facilitate the development of andrology. TCM may contribute to the development of andrology by giving full play to its advantage as a psychosomatic medicine, enriching treatment strategies for male diseases with comprehensive TCM therapies, integrating the advantages of Western medicine to improve clinical efficacy, and normalizing the use of patent TCM drugs.
Andrology ; methods ; trends ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Penile and testicular tumors, especially those of the malignant nature, usually require radical excision, which alters the organ image, affects sexual and urinary functions, and consequently undermines the self-confidence and quality of life of the patient. Recent studies show that organ-sparing surgery can be an alternative to radical excision for superficial tumors and small masses. Penis-sparing surgery (PSS) has been indicated for superficial penile cancer, such as Tis and T1a lesions, and testis-sparing surgery (TSS) is feasible for benign small bilateral or solitary testicular masses (TIN). Long-term follow-ups after PSS or TSS show that the patients may retain a satisfactory appearance of the organ as well as desirable sexual and reproductive functions.
Andrology ; methods ; Humans ; Libido ; Male ; Organ Sparing Treatments ; methods ; Patient Satisfaction ; Penile Neoplasms ; surgery ; Quality of Life ; Self Concept ; Testicular Neoplasms ; surgery

One of the challenges in andrology nowadays is the diagnosis and treatment of external genital abnormalities and defects along with the consequent voiding, sexual, and reproductive dysfunctions, for which no guidelines are yet available. Hitherto, surgical repair and reconstruction are efficient for these diseases. The key to these operations is to individualize surgical strategies according to the specific local lesion and dysfunction, usually involving flap and graft techniques. This article presents our experience in the surgical treatment of penile and scrotal abnormalities and defects with urological and andrological techniques and microsurgical strategies, focusing on the external repair and functional reconstruction. Satisfactory treatment outcomes pivot on a precise evaluation of the disease, a rational design of surgical procedures, and an earnest communication with the patient. Some cases are rather complicated and challenging, usually with complications, and therefore deserve further researches for more effective treatment strategies in clinical practice.
Andrology ; Genitalia, Male ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Penis ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Scrotum ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Surgical Flaps ; Treatment Outcome

RNA interference (RNAi), induced by double-strand RNA homologous to the silenced gene, is a process of post-transcriptional gene silencing in animals and plants. It plays an important role in fighting viral infection, inhibiting transposon activity and down-regulating the expression of the endogenous gene. As a focus of current biomedical research, RNAi has been applied to the studies of erectile dysfunction (ED), prostate cancer and spermatogenesis. This paper summarizes the mechanisms of RNAi, the latest progress in its researches and its application in andrology studies.
Andrology ; methods ; trends ; Biomedical Research ; methods ; trends ; Erectile Dysfunction ; genetics ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA Interference ; Spermatogenesis ; genetics

Thanks to the increasing use of flow cytometry in research in veterinary spermatology, many new membrane integrity assays have been developed over the past decade. These assays are important because of their superior ability to forecast fertility when compared with other tests, such as sperm motility. This major component of the sperm quality assessment has generated new investigations with the aim of developing tests that can detect membrane damage in a very early state. Using phospholipid transposition tests, early changes in membrane permeability and fluidity can be assessed in a large number of spermatozoa using fluorescent probes in combination with flow cytometry.
Andrology ; methods ; Animals ; Cell Membrane ; physiology ; Cell Membrane Permeability ; physiology ; Cryopreservation ; methods ; Male ; Phospholipids ; metabolism ; Spermatozoa ; cytology ; metabolism ; ultrastructure ; Veterinary Medicine ; methods

Andrology ; methods ; trends ; China ; Humans ; Male

Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is a novel technique developed in the recent years. Under direct microscopic visualization, LCM permits rapid one-step procurement of the selected pure target cell subgroup, even a single cell from a section of the complex, heterogeneous tissue. This technique has rapidly been introduced in the researches for the cellular and molecular mechanisms of diseases. It helps improve diagnosis, therapy and prognosis. This article reviews the progress in the application of LCM in andrology.
Andrology ; Animals ; Cell Separation ; methods ; Humans ; Lasers ; Male ; Microdissection ; methods ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology ; Rats ; Testis ; cytology