Y Chromosome Infertility

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Y chromosome infertility is a condition that affects the production of sperm and causes male infertility, which means it is difficult or impossible for affected men to father children. An affected man's body may produce no mature sperm cells (azoospermia), fewer than the usual number of sperm cells (oligospermia), or sperm cells that are abnormally shaped or that do not move properly. Men with Y chromosome infertility do not have any other signs or symptoms related to the condition.

As its name suggests, this form of infertility is caused by changes in the Y chromosome. People normally have 46 chromosomes in each cell. Two of the 46 chromosomes are sex chromosomes, called X and Y. Females have two X chromosomes (46,XX), and males have one X chromosome and one Y chromosome (46,XY).

Y chromosome infertility occurs in approximately 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 3,000 males of all ethnic groups. This condition accounts for about 13 percent of cases of azoospermia and 5 percent of severe oligospermia.

Because Y chromosome infertility impedes the ability to father children, this condition is usually not inherited. Most cases of this condition result from new (de novo) deletions on the Y chromosome that occur during formation of sperm cells in an affected individual's father who is not himself infertile. These cases occur in men with no history of the disorder in their family.

Published Date: January 01, 2019
Published By: National Institutes of Health