Prognostic value of Y deletion analysis - How reliable is the outcome of Ydeletion analysis in providing a sound prognosis?

Y chromosomal microdeletions at the azoospermia factor (AZF) locus have bee n implicated as one of the major causes of idiopathic male infertility. The availability of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in treating a vari ety of male infertility has raised the risk of the transmission of Y microd eletions from father to son, In many IVF centres, Y microdeletion analysis has been used as a diagnostic tool for genetic counselling of infertile cou ples, Presently, the only prognosis that can be derived from Y microdeletio n analysis is that the affected male offspring would benefit from proper cl inical management of their infertility. Prognoses based on the pattern of Y microdeletions in relation to phenotype are rather subjective and inconclu sive because of insufficient data to derive a definitive correlation whose significance can be determined by statistical analysis, Standardization of the number and choice of sequence-tagged sites (STS), whose deletions resul t in defective spermatogenesis, for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ana lysis of Y microdeletions would enhance its reliability in the interpretati on of the results which is crucial for therapeutic decision-making. Further more, in-depth understanding of the gene functions in male infertility, esp ecially at the AZF locus, would contribute greatly to the quality of the pr ognostic value of Y microdeletion analysis.