ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Data on the prevalence of permanent infertility, that is, the unfulfilled wish for children, vary considerably between 3% and 15% to 20% (1). Among all involuntary childless couples, male infertility is the reason for the unfulfilled wish for children in approximately 30% to 50% (2), which amounts to more than 7% of men who are affected by infertility during their reproductive lifetime. Thus, the prevalence of male infertility is even higher than for diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2, which is considered as a common disease (3).
