Path Fertility Launches NOA Guide™, a First-of-Its-Kind Diagnostic to Improve Care for Men with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia
New epigenetic test helps physicians better assess sperm retrieval potential, reduce unnecessary procedures, and personalize treatment pathways
Salt Lake City, UT – January 13, 2026 – Path Fertility, a division of Inherent Biosciences, Inc. and a leader in epigenetic diagnostics for reproductive health, today announced the commercial launch of NOA Guide™, a novel laboratory test designed to support clinical decision making for men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), one of the most challenging causes of male infertility.
NOA affects up to 15% of infertile men. Historically, clinicians have relied on limited diagnostic tools without reliable indicators to predict surgical sperm retrieval success. NOA Guide™ is designed to add critical information to support conversations about options, expectations, and timing, so decisions feel more informed and less uncertain.
Leveraging proprietary epigenetic biomarkers, NOA Guide™ analyzes DNA methylation patterns in cell-free DNA to help predict the likelihood of finding viable sperm during microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE). The test aims to give reproductive urologists and fertility specialists actionable information earlier in the care pathway, enabling more personalized counseling, better treatment planning, and potentially fewer failed surgeries.
“NOA is devastating for patients and incredibly difficult for clinicians to manage with today’s diagnostic toolkit,” said Andy Olson, Co-Founder and CEO of Path Fertility. “With NOA Guide™, we’re bringing objective, biology-based insights to a decision that has historically been driven by uncertainty. Our goal is to reduce procedural burden, improve patient experience, and ultimately increase the chances of successful family-building.”
NOA Guide™ builds on Path Fertility’s growing portfolio of male-focused fertility diagnostics, including SpermQT™, the first clinically validated epigenetic sperm quality test that predicts outcomes across natural conception, IUI, and IVF. Together, these products form an integrated platform aimed at elevating the standard of care for male infertility, an area that has long been underdiagnosed and undertreated.
Early clinical collaborations suggest that NOA Guide™ may help physicians stratify patients into higher- and lower-success categories for sperm retrieval, informing decisions around timing, alternative treatment pathways, or the use of donor sperm.
Key features of NOA Guide™ include:
A non-invasive laboratory analysis based on validated epigenetic markers
Results intended to inform the probability of successful sperm retrieval
Support for shared decision-making between physicians and patients
Integration into existing fertility clinic workflows
Path Fertility is initially rolling out NOA Guide™ through select reproductive urology partners, with broader availability planned throughout 2026.
For more information about Path Fertility and NOA Guide, visit pathfertility.com.
About Path Fertility: Path Fertility is pioneering epigenetic diagnostics in reproductive health. The company is dedicated to closing the gap in fertility technology, starting with male infertility, through innovative, clinically validated tests that improve outcomes, reduce unnecessary treatments, and bring greater clarity to fertility care. Path Fertility’s portfolio includes SpermQT™, NOA Guide™, and a pipeline of next-generation diagnostics aimed at transforming how reproductive health is measured and managed.
