A Non-Invasive Test for Predicting Sperm Retrieval Outcomes for men with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia (NOA).
Being told you have non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) can be confusing and overwhelming. Many men are asked to consider microdissection testicular sperm extraction, also called microTESE, without knowing how likely it is to succeed.
NOA Guide exists to help you and your doctor better understand what to expect before deciding whether surgery is the right next step.
For many men, standard testing does not clearly answer whether sperm will be found. Hormones, imaging, and genetics can provide important clues, but they often leave uncertainty.
NOA Guide is intended to add another piece of information to support conversations about options, expectations, and timing, so decisions feel more informed and less uncertain.
Even when no sperm are seen in a semen analysis, tiny fragments of DNA are still present in the seminal fluid. Some of these fragments come from sperm cells within the testes.
NOA Guide analyzes this cell free DNA (cfDNA) and looks for DNA methylation patterns that are unique to sperm. These patterns act like a biological fingerprint, allowing sperm derived DNA to be distinguished from DNA coming from other cells.
By measuring the proportion of sperm derived DNA in the sample, NOA Guide estimates the likelihood of finding sperm during surgical retrieval based on outcomes observed in men with nonobstructive azoospermia.
Your result places you into one of three groups
These groups reflect how often sperm were found in prior patients with similar NOA guide results. They are meant to guide discussion with your doctor and treatment planning.
Your NOA Guide result can help you and your care team:
Some men with lower success results still had sperm found. Some men with higher success results did not. The result is about probability, not guarantees.
High Success
Low Success
NOA Guide does not diagnose the cause of azoospermia.
It does not replace medical evaluation or clinical judgment.
It does not determine the outcome of surgery.
It is one piece of information meant to support shared decision making.
Your physician orders NOA Guide for you.
Navigate to the “NOA Guide Payment” page, fill in your information, and submit payment.
Your at home specimen collection kit will be mailed to you.
Follow the collection instructions provided in the kit.
After providing your semen sample, mail the kit back using the pre-paid label attached to the kit.
Your NOA Guide result will be ready in approximately two weeks. The result will be sent directly to your doctor.
Your doctor reviews the results with you and discusses next steps
MicroTESE is a major step. It involves surgery, recovery, cost, and emotional weight. Having more information beforehand can help you feel prepared, whatever decision you make.
NOA Guide is designed to help make the unknown feel more navigable.
Your results should always be discussed with a reproductive urologist, alongside your full medical history, hormone testing, imaging, genetics, and any prior pathology.
To find a certified reproductive urologist, please contact Path Fertility at: hello@pathfertility.com
There is no right or wrong choice. NOA Guide is here to support you and your doctor as you decide what comes next.
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