7.10 - 7.12 Testicles, epididymides and spermatic cords
7.10 AMA5 Table 7-7 (p 159) should be replaced with Table 7.4, below, when assessing permanent impairment due to testicular, epididymal and spermatic cord disease. This table includes rating for infertility and equates impairment with female infertility (see Table 7.5 in the Guidelines). Infertility in either sex must be considered to be of equal impact, age for age.
7.11 Male infertility is defined as azoospermia or other cause of inability to cause impregnation, even with assisted contraception techniques.
7.12 Loss of sexual function related to spinal injury should only be assessed as an impairment where there is other objective evidence of spinal cord, cauda equina or bilateral nerve root dysfunction. The ratings described in AMA5 Table 13-21 (p 342) are used in this instance. There is no additional impairment rating system for loss of sexual function in the absence of objective clinical findings.
Table 7.4: Criteria for rating permanent impairment due to testicular, epididymal and spermatic cord disease
| Class 1 0-10% impairment of the whole person | Class 2 11-15% impairment of the whole person | Class 3 16-35% impairment of the whole person |
|---|---|---|
Testicular, epididymal or spermatic cord disease symptoms and signs and anatomic alteration and no continuous treatment required and no seminal or hormonal function or abnormalities or solitary testicle | Testicular, epididymal or spermatic cord disease symptoms and signs and anatomic alteration and cannot effectively be controlled by treatment and detectable seminal or hormonal abnormalities | Trauma or disease produces bilateral anatomic loss of the primary sex organs or no detectable seminal or hormonal function or infertility |