Y chromosome infertility

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.

Some men with Y chromosome infertility who have mild to moderate oligospermia may eventually father a child naturally. Men with oligospermia may also be helped with assisted reproductive technologies; most men with Y chromosome infertility have some sperm cells in the testes that can be extracted for this purpose.

Other names

Spermatogenic failure, Y-linked; Y chromosome-related azoospermia

Inheritance pattern

Y-linked; Not inherited

Related genes

DAZ1; RBMY1A1; TSPY1; KDM5D; USP9Y; DDX3Y; PRY; VCY; CDY1; DAZ3; DAZ2; DAZ4; HSFY1; RPS4Y2; HSFY2

Source: MedlinePlus Genetics, U.S. National Library of Medicine.