Multiplex-Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detecting Microdeletions in The Azoospermia Factor Region of Y Chromosome in Iranian Couples with Non-Obstructive Infertility and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss

Objective Approximately 15 percent of couples are infertile. The male factor is responsible for approximately 50% of the cases. One of the main genetic factors playing a role in male infertility is Y chromosomal microdeletion within the proximal long arm of the Y chromosome (Yq11), named azoospermia factor (AZF) region. Recent studies have also demonstrated that there is a potential connection between deletion of AZF region and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). The, the aim of this study is Y chromosomal microdeletion evaluation at the AZF region in two infertile groups, men with non-obstructive infertility and in men having spouse with RPL. MaterialsAndMethods This is a case-control study. Genomic DNA was extrac‌ted from 80 male samples including 40 non-obstructive infertile men, 20 males from couples with RPL and 20 fertile males as controls. . Multiplex polymerase-chain reaction using 19 sequence tagged sites (STS) sets of primers was performed to detect AZF deletion Differences between case and control groups were evaluated by two-tailed unpaired t-test. p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Only one subject was detec‌ted to have Y chromosome microdeletions in SY254, SY157 and SY255 among 40 men with non-obstructive infertility. There was no Y chromosome microdeletion in 20 males of couples with RPL and their controls. It seems that Y chromosome microdeletion was not significantly associated with non-obstructive infertility (p-value: 0.48) and also it was not associated with recurrent pregnancy loss. Conclusion Performing Y chromosome microdeletion detection test in men with non-obstructive infertility and couples with RPL seems to be unnecessary.