Research has shown that men with azoospermia have higher rates of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic disorders. These findings suggest that male infertility, particularly azoospermia, could serve as a biomarker for systemic diseases and an entry point for preventive care.
There are two main types of azoospermia: obstructive azoospermia, caused by blockages in the urogenital tract, and nonobstructive azoospermia, in which the testes fail to produce sperm.
Growing evidence indicates an increase in the rates of oncologic, cardiovascular, and metabolic disorders. This paradigm could create an opportunity for crucial healthcare reform, with the infertile phenotype serving as a biomarker for potential pathological conditions.
As men are not subject to routine screening programs comparable to those for women, fertility testing provides a rare opportunity to detect those at elevated risk and initiate timely interventions. This expands the role of urologists beyond fertility treatment to include broader diagnostic and preventive care for men.
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