biostudies-literatureUnknown51(10)Pilatz AThis work was supported by the LOEWE focus group MIBIE (Male Infertility during Infection and Inflammation, projects B1, C1, C2, and C3, state government of Hessen, Germany). None of those who provided funds had a role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Considering infection/inflammation to be an important risk factor in male infertility, the aim of this study was to make a comprehensive evaluation of the prevalence of urogenital tract infection/inflammation and its potential impact on sperm retrieval in azoospermic patients. In this prospective study, 71 patients with azoospermia were subjected to an extensive andrological workup including comprehensive microbiological diagnostics (2-glass test, semen, testicular swab and testicular tissue analysis) and testicular biopsy/testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Medical history suggested urogenital tract infection/inflammation in 7% of patients, 11% harboured STIs, 14% showed significant bacteriospermia, 15% had seminal inflammation, 17% fulfilled the MAGI definition, and 27% had relevant pathogens. At the testicular level, 1 patient had a swab positive for bacteria, no viruses were detected, tissue specimens never indicated pathogens, whereas histopathology revealed focal immune cell infiltrates in 23% of samples. Testicular sperm retrieval rate was 100% in obstructive and 46% in nonobstructive azoospermia. None of the infection/inflammation-related variables was associated with the success of sperm retrieval or inflammatory lesions in the testis. The high prevalence of urogenital infection/inflammation among azoospermic men underpins their role as significant aetiologic factors in male infertility. However, this observation does not refer to the chances of sperm retrieval at the time of surgery/TESE.Andrologiae13401https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7147116biostudies-literatureHigh prevalence of urogenital infection/inflammation in patients with azoospermia does not impede surgical sperm retrieval.PMC7147116Pilatz AWeidner WSchuppe HCKaplan HHossain HSchuttler CGBergmann MDiemer TFietz DDomann EKilb JWagenlehner FfalseHigh prevalence of urogenital infection/inflammation in patients with azoospermia does not impede surgical sperm retrieval.Considering infection/inflammation to be an important risk factor in male infertility, the aim of this study was to make a comprehensive evaluation of the prevalence of urogenital tract infection/inflammation and its potential impact on sperm retrieval in azoospermic patients. In this prospective study, 71 patients with azoospermia were subjected to an extensive andrological workup including comprehensive microbiological diagnostics (2-glass test, semen, testicular swab and testicular tissue analysis) and testicular biopsy/testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Medical history suggested urogenital tract infection/inflammation in 7% of patients, 11% harboured STIs, 14% showed significant bacteriospermia, 15% had seminal inflammation, 17% fulfilled the MAGI definition, and 27% had relevant pathogens. At the testicular level, 1 patient had a swab positive for bacteria, no viruses were detected, tissue specimens never indicated pathogens, whereas histopathology revealed focal immune cell infiltrates in 23% of samples. Testicular sperm retrieval rate was 100% in obstructive and 46% in nonobstructive azoospermia. None of the infection/inflammation-related variables was associated with the success of sperm retrieval or inflammatory lesions in the testis. The high prevalence of urogenital infection/inflammation among azoospermic men underpins their role as significant aetiologic factors in male infertility. However, this observation does not refer to the chances of sperm retrieval at the time of surgery/TESE.2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Nov2025-04-18T21:12:51.232Z2020-05-22T16:47:57ZS-EPMC71471163145622610.1111/and.13401