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Male Idiopathic Infertility

Meaning

Male idiopathic infertility is a clinical diagnosis applied when a male patient presents with abnormal semen parameters, such as low sperm concentration, poor motility, or abnormal morphology, but a comprehensive medical and endocrinological workup fails to identify a specific, underlying cause. The term “idiopathic” signifies that the etiology remains unknown after standard diagnostic protocols have been exhausted. This diagnosis is frustrating for patients and clinicians alike, often suggesting subtle, multifactorial defects in spermatogenesis or sperm function that are not yet routinely detectable. It is estimated to account for a substantial percentage of male factor infertility cases.