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BACKGROUND: Most infertile males with congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens (CBAVD) carry mutations on the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene and may express mild cystic fibrosis (CF) symptoms. Barriers to paternity for these men can now be overcome by assisted reproduction. Our aims were to investigate the CF-related phenotype and clinical outcome for 50 patients with CBAVD seen at a CF adult centre between 1992 and 1999. METHODS AND RESULTS: The investigation of the patients included screening for 22 CF mutations and identification of the poly-T variant of intron 8, sweat testing, clinical investigation for CF-related extra-genital manifestations, and genetic counselling. CFTR mutations were detected on 56 alleles of the 50 patients. A total of 15 (30%) was compound heterozygote and 26 (52%) heterozygote. In all, 38% of the patients had a positive sweat test. Four patients were diagnosed with typical CF not detected previously. Twenty-one patients became fathers following ICSI (eight cases), artificial insemination by donor or IVF with sperm donor (seven cases) or through adoption (six cases). A mail survey allowed the identification of CF-related clinical symptoms. Information on the occurrence of CF-related symptoms was obtained for 58.5% of patients: in the absence of initial symptoms, no new clinical signs were reported. CONCLUSION: Patients diagnosed with CBAVD need genetic counselling before assisted reproduction. Even when no wish for paternity is expressed, CF gene screening should be associated with at least a sweat test and clinical evaluation because of possible mild forms of CF disease. Medical follow-up did not reveal any new symptoms.