Chromosome studies in male patients suffering from infertility

Objective: The goal was to estimate the contribution of chromosome anomalie s in the Iraqi infertile males. Methods: Sixty-four male patients were included in the present study. Blood culture and chromosomal harvesting were conducted according to standard me thods. Results: The percentage of normal karyotype was 87.5%. The number of abnorm al karyotypes constitute about 12.5%. In our azoospermic patients, about 11 % of patients stated to have abnormal karyotype comparing to 15% in oligosp ermic patients. On the other hand, sex chromosomal anomalies were detected in 4 patients with azoospermia. No autosomal anomalies were found in this g roup. Meanwhile, 3 patients with sex chromosomal anomalies were recorded in oligospermic patients. The unique autosomal anomaly was detected in one ol igospermic patient. Conclusions: Karyotyping of subfertile males will still be important not on ly from a diagnostic viewpoint, but even more importantly, in order to gain a better understanding of gametogenic impairment, which is associated with chromosomal abnormalities. Moreover, the value of cytogenetic screening is emphasized since this group of chromosomally abnormal patients can be excl uded from conventional treatment.