Incidence of Y-chromosome microdeletions in children whose fathers underwent vasectomy reversal or in vitro fertilization with epididymal sperm aspiration: a case-control study

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the incidence of Y-chromosome microdeletions in individuals born from vasectomized fathers who underwent vasectomy reversal or in vitro fertilization with sperm retrieval by epididymal aspiration (percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration).Methods A case-control study comprising male children of couples in which the man had been previously vasectomized and chose vasectomy reversal (n=31) or in vitro fertilization with sperm retrieval by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (n=30) to conceive new children, and a Control Group of male children of fertile men who had programmed vasectomies (n=60). Y-chromosome microdeletions research was performed by polymerase chain reaction on fathers and children, evaluating 20 regions of the chromosome.Results The results showed no Y-chromosome microdeletions in any of the studied subjects. The incidence of Y-chromosome microdeletions in individuals born from vasectomized fathers who underwent vasectomy reversal or in vitro fertilization with spermatozoa recovered by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration did not differ between the groups, and there was no difference between control subjects born from natural pregnancies or population incidence in fertile men.Conclusion We found no association considering microdeletions in the azoospermia factor region of the Y chromosome and assisted reproduction. We also found no correlation between these Y-chromosome microdeletions and vasectomies, which suggests that the assisted reproduction techniques do not increase the incidence of Y-chromosome microdeletions.

Review of Vasectomy Complications and Safety Concerns

“…Belker et al [ 89 ] reported a negative correlation between time since vasectomy and the probability of postoperative pregnancy. Such results also appeared in studies of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with testicular sperm extraction [ 90 ], in which the success rate of assisted conception was affected 10 years after vasectomy [ 86 ]. However, research has shown that the age of the woman rather than the time since vasectomy is the main determinant of success in in vitro fertilization (IVF)–embryo transfer and ICSI in cases of obstructive azoospermia after vasectomy [ 90 ].…”

“…The sperm motility and number were decreased, sperm DNA fragmentation was increased, sperm production was inhibited, germ cell apoptosis increased after vasectomy, and sperm granuloma and abnormal sperm formation were induced [ 84 , 85 ]. There is no correlation between the Y chromosome microdeletion which causes abnormal sperm quality and vasectomy [ 86 ]. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase and inducible nitric oxide synthase may play a key role in apoptosis of germ cells after vasectomy [ 87 ].…”

Y chromosome microdeletions and varicocele as aetiological factors of male infertility: A cross-sectional study

“…The incidence of Y chromosome microdeletion differs among studies, ranging from 2.1% to 14% in azoospermic men and from 1.8% to 8.5% in oligozoospermic men (Ghirelli-Filho et al, 2016;Mafra et al, 2011). This difference may be due to the heterogeneity of the studied population and of the Y chromosome regions investigated.…”

“…This difference may be due to the heterogeneity of the studied population and of the Y chromosome regions investigated. Regarding the fertile population, the incidence of Y chromosome microdeletions is also a subject for discussion because classification as "fertile" does not imply normozoospermia, which can generate biases (Ghirelli-Filho et al, 2016) ranging from 0% to 0.87% (Dada, Gupta, & Kucheria, 2002;Ghirelli-Filho et al, 2016;Kent-First et al, 1999).…”