Description
Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens occurs in males when the tubes that carry sperm out of the testes (the vas deferens) fail to develop properly. Although the testes usually develop and function normally, sperm cannot be transported through the vas deferens to become part of semen. As a result, men with this condition are unable to father children (infertile) unless they use assisted reproductive technologies. This condition has not been reported to affect sex drive or sexual performance.
This condition can occur alone or as a sign of cystic fibrosis, an inherited disease of the mucus glands. Cystic fibrosis causes progressive damage to the respiratory system and chronic digestive system problems. Many men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens do not have the other characteristic features of cystic fibrosis; however, some men with this condition may experience mild respiratory or digestive problems.
Frequency
This condition is responsible for 1 percent to 2 percent of all infertility in men.
Causes
Mutations in the CFTR gene cause congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens.
More than half of all men with this condition have mutations in the CFTR gene. Mutations in this gene also cause cystic fibrosis. When congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens occurs with CFTR mutations and without other features of cystic fibrosis, the condition is considered a form of atypical cystic fibrosis.
The protein made from the CFTR gene forms a channel that transports negatively charged particles called chloride ions into and out of cells. The flow of chloride ions helps control the movement of water in tissues, which is necessary for the production of thin, freely flowing mucus. Mucus is a slippery substance that lubricates and protects the linings of the airways, digestive system, reproductive system, and other organs and tissues.
Mutations in the CFTR gene disrupt the function of the chloride channels, preventing them from regulating the flow of chloride ions and water across cell membranes. As a result, cells in the male genital tract produce mucus that is abnormally thick and sticky. This mucus clogs the vas deferens as they are forming, causing them to deteriorate before birth.
In instances of congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens without a mutation in the CFTR gene, the cause of this condition is often unknown. Some cases are associated with other structural problems of the urinary tract.
Inheritance
When this condition is caused by mutations in the CFTR gene, it is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. This pattern of inheritance means that both copies of the gene in each cell have a mutation. Men with this condition who choose to father children through assisted reproduction have an increased risk of having a child with cystic fibrosis. If congenital absence of the vas deferens is not caused by mutations in CFTR, the risk of having children with cystic fibrosis is not increased.
Other Names for This Condition
- Absence of vas deferens
- Absent vasa
- CAVD
- CBAVD
- Congenital absence of vas deferens
- Congenital aplasia of vas deferens
- Congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens
Additional Information & Resources
Genetic Testing Information
Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center
Patient Support and Advocacy Resources
Clinical Trials
Catalog of Genes and Diseases from OMIM
Scientific Articles on PubMed
References
- Cuppens H, Cassiman JJ. CFTR mutations and polymorphisms in male infertility. Int J Androl. 2004 Oct;27(5):251-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2004.00485.x. Citation on PubMed
- Daudin M, Bieth E, Bujan L, Massat G, Pontonnier F, Mieusset R. Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens: clinical characteristics, biological parameters, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene mutations, and implications for genetic counseling. Fertil Steril. 2000 Dec;74(6):1164-74. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(00)01625-3. Citation on PubMed
- de Souza DAS, Faucz FR, Pereira-Ferrari L, Sotomaior VS, Raskin S. Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens as an atypical form of cystic fibrosis: reproductive implications and genetic counseling. Andrology. 2018 Jan;6(1):127-135. doi: 10.1111/andr.12450. Epub 2017 Dec 7. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Gilljam M, Moltyaner Y, Downey GP, Devlin R, Durie P, Cantin AM, Zielenski J, Tullis DE. Airway inflammation and infection in congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004 Jan 15;169(2):174-9. doi: 10.1164/rccm.200304-558OC. Epub 2003 Oct 9. Citation on PubMed
- Jarzabek K, Zbucka M, Pepinski W, Szamatowicz J, Domitrz J, Janica J, Wolczynski S, Szamatowicz M. Cystic fibrosis as a cause of infertility. Reprod Biol. 2004 Jul;4(2):119-29. Citation on PubMed
- Nick JA, Rodman DM. Manifestations of cystic fibrosis diagnosed in adulthood. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2005 Nov;11(6):513-8. doi: 10.1097/01.mcp.0000183052.56728.76. Citation on PubMed
- Noone PG, Knowles MR. 'CFTR-opathies': disease phenotypes associated with cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator gene mutations. Respir Res. 2001;2(6):328-32. doi: 10.1186/rr82. Epub 2001 Aug 9. Citation on PubMed or Free article on PubMed Central
- Samli H, Samli MM, Yilmaz E, Imirzalioglu N. Clinical, andrological and genetic characteristics of patients with congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens (CBAVD). Arch Androl. 2006 Nov-Dec;52(6):471-7. doi: 10.1080/01485010600691993. Citation on PubMed
- Savant A, Lyman B, Bojanowski C, Upadia J. Cystic Fibrosis. 2001 Mar 26 [updated 2023 Mar 9]. In: Adam MP, Feldman J, Mirzaa GM, Pagon RA, Wallace SE, Bean LJH, Gripp KW, Amemiya A, editors. GeneReviews(R) [Internet]. Seattle (WA): University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2024. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1250/ Citation on PubMed
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