My husband and I have not been able to find much information on our problem. He had a biopsy over a year ago, after we tried for three years to conceive, and the doctors found that he does not mature any sperm. They said there is something missing in his DNA. We found out six months later that his brother has the same thing. The doctor was pretty sure nothing could be done and said that it is very rare. Are there any new procedures that would allow us to have a biological child? Also, does not having any sperm production lower a man's desire for sex?

-- Kelly

DNA microdeletions can often result in abnormal or absent sperm production. These abnormalities of the Y chromosome in the DAZ region can be found in up to 10 percent of men with severe sperm abnormalities. It would seem likely that your husband's father may also demonstrate this abnormality. It may be that his father has some cells that are normal, but that the Y-bearing sperm he produces are abnormal.

Luckily, sperm production has nothing to do with testosterone production and virility. Sexual desire is the result of many factors and organs ... the brain being the most important. While decreased testosterone production may inhibit libido, testosterone production is not hampered by abnormal sperm production.