<unk>  is a rare and severe form of monomorphic teratozoospermia. This means that the spermatozoa show the same abnormality, and over 85% of spermatozoa in sperm have this abnormality.<unk>  is responsible for less than 0.1% of male infertility. It is characterised by round-headed spermatozoa without acrosomes, an abnormal nuclear membrane and midpiece defects. Affected males therefore suffer from either reduced fertility or infertility. Studies suggest that<unk>  can be either total (100% round-headed spermatozoa without acrosomes) or partial (20-60% round acrosomeless spermatozoa with normal sperm also identified in the sperm count,) however it is unclear whether these two forms are variations on the same syndrome, or actually different syndromes. Infertility in this condition results from the sperm heads missing their acrosome. These sperm, therefore, have a characteristic round or spherically shaped head. Given the absence of the acrosome, these sperm are unable to penetrate the oocyte and are unable to achieve fertilization through conventional means; however, these sperm are able to fertilize the egg through in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection, which is the treatment of choice for these patients. Studies have suggested mutations or deletions in three genes are responsible for this condition: SPATA16, PICK1 and DPY19L2. ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) has previously been used to assist reproduction in<unk>  patients, however it has not been particularly effective in all patients, due to low fertilisation rates.
Globozoospermia
Asthenozoospermia
Hypospermia
Azoospermia
Hematospermia
Teratospermia
Oligospermia
Parametritis