From Zero Sperm to Fatherhood Hope: Rare Male Infertility Success in Navi Mumbai

Navi Mumbai: For The First Time In Navi Mumbai, a team led by Dr Sanish Shringarpure, Urologist and Andrologist, Medicover Hospital, successfully treated a 26-year-old man suffering from Non-Obstructive Azoospermia with zero sperm, grade-3 right-sided varicocele, and left testicular atrophy due to past orchitis (testicular infection).

After six months of surgery and hormonal treatment, his semen report showed an impressive recovery with 26 million sperm, along with healthy motility and morphology.

Since his late teens, Rahul Rai (name changed), a resident of Mahad, who is an IT Engineer by profession, carried a silent fear about his future. He noticed changes in his body that did not feel normal, such as low energy, shrinking confidence, and no signs of sexual maturity like his peers.

Every medical report deepened his fear. When he finally saw “No Sperm Seen” on his semen analysis report, it felt like the ground had collapsed beneath him.

He avoided discussions about marriage because he feared rejection.

“How will I start a family? What if no one accepts me?”

These questions echoed in his mind every day.

Rahul avoided relationships, withdrew from friends, and lived with constant worry about whether he could ever become a father. He carried his pain quietly, without sharing it even with close friends. The emotional pressure became unbearable until he gathered the courage to seek medical help.

That courage brought him to Medicover Hospital, where his life took a new turn.

Dr Sanish Shringarpure, Urologist and Andrologist, said, “The young man arrived at the OPD in January 2025. complaining of persistent dull pain in the right scrotum. Clinical evaluation revealed a small, non-functional left testis and suspicion of a grade-3 varicocele on the right side, later confirmed by Doppler.

His testosterone was significantly low at 300 ng/dL, and his semen analysis showed total absence of sperm, a finding that devastated the patient and his parents. He was advised to undergo right microscopic varicocelectomy along with left orchidectomy, followed by hormonal therapy.

There was a complete absence of sperm in semen and very low testosterone, along with a grade-3 varicocele and an atrophic left testis. He was having Non-Obstructive Azoospermia (NOA) is one of the most severe and challenging forms of male infertility.

Non obstructive Azoospermia (NOA) is a condition where sperm are absent even in the centrifuged semen samples. There are various causes of NOA, Testicular trauma, childhood testicular Infection, Torsion testis, exposure to chemicals, radiation, varicocele, and low hormones, due to which the sperm quantity and quality are affected.

This affects the sperm counts, motility, morphology, and Vitality of the sperm. Such patients have zero sperm in semen, and testosterone is on the lower side. Recovery of natural sperm production is extremely rare, with only 30–40% chances even after treatment.

Dr Sanish Shringarpure further added, “Non-Obstructive Azoospermia is one of the most difficult conditions to treat because the problem lies in the sperm production itself. Many of these patients feel hopeless and emotionally drained even before they meet a doctor.

The fear of never being able to father a child affects their confidence and relationships. Our priority was a clear diagnosis and emotional counselling so that the patient understood both the challenges and the possibilities.

We explained that the chances of natural sperm recovery were only about 30%-40%, and failure would mean he might need an advanced retrieval procedure like micro-TESE. He was scheduled for surgery in February 2025.

Dr Sanish Shringarpure explained,“The team performed a microscopic varicocelectomy on the right side and removed the non-functioning left testis to stabilise hormonal balance and improve his chances. The biopsy showed maturation arrest, which usually indicates a very low probability of sperm recovery. He started on HCG therapy and antioxidants with a structured monitoring plan.

The procedure lasted for an hour, and was discharged after a day. The recovery he achieved was 26 million sperms with good motility, and it is exceptional for NOA patients. Many men in similar conditions often need micro-TESE or ultimately have to consider donor sperm or adoption. His outcome is medically significant and emotionally heartwarming.”

Six months ago, he underwent left orchidectomy, right microscopic varicocelectomy, and intra-operative testicular biopsy under spinal anaesthesia. The biopsy showed maturation arrest at the secondary spermatocyte stage, indicating severe compromise in sperm development.

Post-surgery, he was given HCG injections for 6 weeks, along with antioxidants. After six months, his repeat semen analysis showed a remarkable recovery: 26 million total sperm count, 30% motility, and 40% normal morphology, restoring his hope of future fatherhood.

Men with azoospermia or varicocele often delay treatment due to fear, embarrassment, or lack of awareness. But early intervention can change the entire future of these young men. The combination of surgery and hormonal therapy in this case restored natural sperm production, which is rare.

Many patients come to us only when they start planning a marriage. By then, the emotional stress is very high. With proper guidance, treatment, and modern microsurgical options, many such men can lead a healthy reproductive life.

“For years, I lived with silent fear, a fear that I might never become a father, never be accepted, never have a normal family life. When the report said there was no sperm, I felt completely broken. I could not share this with anyone, not even my parents. But when I met the team of doctors at Medicover, I finally felt understood.

They treated me with respect and gave me hope. Today, seeing my semen report with millions of sperm feels like a miracle. This treatment has not only changed my medical condition but has given me back my confidence, my dreams, and my future,” said the patient Rahul.