睾丸精子冷冻复苏对ICSI助孕结局的影响

目的探讨睾丸精子冷冻复苏对ICSI助孕结局的影响。方法回顾性分析2010年1月至2014年9月因梗阻性无精子症在本院采用睾丸精子行ICSI助孕的214个周期的临床资料,其中107个周期采用冷冻复苏的睾丸精子(冻精复苏组),另外107个周期采用新鲜睾丸精子(新鲜精子组)。比较两组中女方的一般资料、受精率、卵裂率、可利用胚胎数、优质胚胎率,以及临床妊娠率。结果本研究中,107个周期冻存睾丸精子复苏均获成功;冻精复苏组与新鲜精子组行ICSI助孕后的受精率[(76.91±18.24)%vs.(75.35±20.62)%]、卵裂率[(94.69±5.29)%vs.(95.37±4.48)%]、可利用胚胎数[(4.67±2.52)vs.(4.20±2.75)个]、优质胚胎率[(64.47±26.08)%vs.(60.34±27.39)%]及临床妊娠率(52.24%vs.50.63%)比较均无显著性差异(P0.05)。结论睾丸精子冷冻复苏对ICSI助孕结局并无显著影响。     

非梗阻性无精子症患者睾丸组织病理分型不影响生育结局

目的:探讨非梗阻性无精子症(NOA)患者行卵细胞胞质内单精子注射(ICSI)的助孕结局及睾丸组织病理分型对NOA患者的助孕结局有无影响。方法:回顾性分析2011年1月至2015年12月在我中心行TESE-ICSI助孕的无精子症病例资料,选取不孕原因为单纯男性或男性合并女方输卵管因素且女方年龄在38岁以下的NOA病例73例,共完成105个取卵周期,79个移植周期。按睾丸组织病理分型将ICSI周期分为3组:精子发生低下组、精子成熟阻滞组和唯支持细胞组,统计总体NOA患者和不同组别的男、女方平均年龄、不孕年限、基础FSH值、Gn使用支数、Gn使用天数、hCG日E2值、hCG日P值、内膜厚度、MII卵数、受精、可移植胚胎、优质胚胎、临床妊娠及流产情况。结果:NOA患者的ICSI受精率为67.03%(553/825)、受精失败发生率9.52%(10/105)、可移植胚胎率85.66%(472/551)、优质胚胎率35.03%(193/551)、平均移植胚胎2.10个,临床妊娠44例(55.70%),活婴出生率为53.16%(42/79),未发生出生缺陷。不同组间的男女方平均年龄、不孕年限、基础FSH值、Gn使用支数、Gn使用天数、hCG日E2值、HCG日P值、子宫内膜厚度、MII卵数均无统计学差异。精子发生低下组、精子成熟阻滞组、唯支持细胞组的受精率分别为68.51%、64.39%、61.45%,可移植胚胎率分别为85.05%、90.48%、83.05%,优质胚胎率分别为33.09%、41.67%、38.98%,组间也均无统计学差异(P0.05);而在临床妊娠率及胚胎种植率方面虽然精子发生低下组(60.00%、37.61%)与唯支持细胞组(62.50%、50.00%)要高于精子成熟阻滞组(37.50%、21.21%),但是没有统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:NOA患者一旦获得睾丸精子,借助于ICSI助孕可以得到较好的临床结局,睾丸组织的病理分型对临床结局无明显影响。     

睾丸冷冻精子对卵胞浆内单精子注射胚胎质量的影响

目的探讨对无精子症患者行卵胞浆内单精子注射(ICSI)时,使用诊断性睾丸取精时的冷冻精子对胚胎质量的影响。方法回顾性分析2014年1月至2018年4月281例无精子患者的临床资料,其中行诊断性睾丸取精时冷冻保存精子,复苏后行ICSI患者165例(冷冻组),取卵日新鲜睾丸取精行ICSI患者116例(新鲜组)。比较两组正常受精率、优质胚胎数、优质胚胎率、D3可利用胚胎数、囊胚形成率、临床妊娠率及活产率、早产率、低出生体重周期率。结果两组相比,冷冻组正常受精率低于新鲜组(64.3%vs.67.6%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),而组间优质胚胎数、优质胚胎率、D3可利用胚胎数、囊胚形成率、临床妊娠率及活产率、早产率及低出生体重周期率均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论对于无精子症患者,行诊断性睾丸取精时冷冻睾丸精子,复苏行ICSI时会降低正常受精率,但一旦正常受精,对胚胎质量及胎儿在母体发育存活没有明显影响;对于后代远期影响尚需长期随访观察。     

经皮附睾穿刺取精精子冷冻复苏后卵细胞胞质内单精子注射治疗无精子症的初步研究

目的:回顾性分析27例无精子症患者经皮附睾穿刺取精术(PESA)所获精子冷冻复苏后行卵细胞胞质内单精子注射(ICSI)治疗后的效果及妊娠结局。方法:将诊断性附睾穿刺以及PESA治疗周期ICSI后所剩余活精子以常规方法加以冷冻,将复苏后找到了足量活精子并行ICSI的病例归为冻精组,而采用新鲜PESA活精子ICSI的病例则归为对照组。比较冻精组与对照组的受精率、种植率、临床妊娠率,同时分析两组间的妊娠并发症、新生儿出生及畸形等情况。结果:冻精组15个周期、对照组100个周期分别注射MⅡ期成熟卵子163、1 157个,受精率冻精组显著高于对照组(84.05%vs73.29%,P<0.05),种植率、临床妊娠率则两组间差异无显著性(23.07%vs15.73%;53.33%vs37.00%,P>0.05),新生儿出生体重差异亦无显著性(P>0.05)。冻精组共妊娠8例,已分娩5例,继续妊娠3例。对照组妊娠37例,已分娩30例,1例死胎;继续妊娠3例;流产4例。两组均未出现重大的妊娠并发症及新生儿畸形。结论:采用PESA冷冻精子ICSI是治疗男性无精子症的一种经济、有效、安全的方法;但PESA冻精复苏率有待于进一步提高。     

显微切开睾丸取精术在继发性睾丸损伤所致非梗阻性无精子症患者中的应用

目的:探讨显微切开睾丸取精术(micro-TESE)应用于因继发性睾丸损伤导致非梗阻性无精子症(NOA)患者的疗效。方法:回顾性分析2014年9月至2017年12月接受micro-TESE并具继发性睾丸损伤病史的121例NOA患者,分析不同睾丸损伤病因患者micro-TESE取精成功率的差异。并进一步比较micro-TESE获得精子与重度少精子症患者(精子浓度1×106/ml)射出精子的卵细胞胞质内单精子注射(ICSI)助孕结局,比较两组间女方年龄、受精(2PN)率、第3天(D3)可移植胚胎率、D3优质胚胎率、D14血h CG阳性率、胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率。结果:104例患者(86.0%,104/121)成功通过micro-TESE获得精子。按其继发性睾丸损伤的病史,microTESE取精成功率分别为:睾丸炎98.4%、隐睾下降固定术后75.5%、化疗/放疗损害63.6%。micro-TESE所获得精子和重度少精子症患者射出精子ICSI助孕周期的2PN受精率(59.4%vs 69.3%)、D14血h CG阳性率(44.6%vs 57.9%)、胚胎种植率(31.8%vs 32.6%)、临床妊娠率(41.5%vs 48.7%)均无统计学差异(P0.05),但两者D3可移植胚胎率(40.5%vs 52.2%)、D3优质胚胎率(32.5%vs 42.1%)均有显著差异(P0.05)。结论:micro-TESE应用于继发性睾丸损伤所致的NOA患者时取精成功率较高,可作为首选治疗方法,但需要进一步探索改善micro-TESE获得精子后行ICSI助孕结局的有效手段。     

ICSI周期显微取精术治疗13例AZF微缺失致无精子症的临床研究

目的探讨ICSI周期显微镜下睾丸切开取精术在AZF微缺失致无精子症患者中的临床应用价值。方法对2014年1月至2016年4月在我院生殖医学中心男科就诊并接受ICSI周期显微镜下睾丸切开取精术的13例AZF微缺失致无精子症患者的临床资料进行回顾性研究,分析指标主要包括AZF微缺失类型、显微镜下睾丸切开取精术次数、单/双侧睾丸取精、精子获得率、精子可用率、正常受精率、可用胚胎率、优胚率及临床妊娠率。结果 ICSI周期显微镜下睾丸切开取精术的13例AZF微缺失致无精子症患者中,AZF微缺失类型分别为:AZFa区完全缺失1例,AZFc区完全缺失9例,AZFc区部分缺失1例,AZFd区部分缺失1例,AZFc区完全缺失伴AZFd区部分缺失1例。共行ICSI周期显微镜下睾丸切开取精术14例次,其中9例次单侧睾丸取精术,5例次双侧睾丸取精术;精子获得率78.57%,可用率72.73%。行ICSI助孕治疗者的正常受精率61.29%、可用胚胎率71.43%、优胚率40.48%、临床妊娠率57.14%。结论 ICSI周期显微镜下睾丸切开取精术可以使部分AZF微缺失致无精子症患者获得数量足够的精子行ICSI助孕治疗,并能获得良好的正常受精率、可用胚胎率、优胚率及临床妊娠率,是一种有效的治疗方法。     

采用冷冻精子与新鲜精子进行卵胞浆内单精子注射的结果比较

目的　比较冷冻精子与新鲜精子进行卵胞浆内单精子注射 ( ICSI)助孕技术的治疗效果。　方法　对 1 6 1对不育夫妇进行 1 6 3个辅助生殖技术治疗周期 ,其中采用冷冻精子 47个周期 ,比较了冷冻精子组与新鲜精子组 1 1 6个周期的受精率、卵裂率、A级胚胎率与临床妊娠率。　结果　冷冻精子组 (组 I)的受精率为 77.6 %、卵裂率为 92 .9%、A级胚胎率为 6 5.4%、临床妊娠率为 45.5% ;新鲜精液严重异常组 (组 II)分别为 54 .4%、94.0 %、45.7%及 2 5.0 % ;新鲜精液轻、中度异常组 (组 III)分别为 73 .5%、92 .5%、46 .8%及 2 9.3 %。组 I的受精率、A级胚胎率和临床妊娠率明显高于组 II( P<0 .0 5) ;与组 III比较无显著性差异 ( P>0 .0 5)。　结论　患者本身的精子质量直接影响 ICSI的受精率 ,精子冷冻复苏处理不影响 ICSI的受精率、卵裂率和优质胚胎率     

经皮睾丸微穿刺活检后冷冻精子的卵胞质内单精子注射

目的:对经皮睾丸微穿刺活检后冷冻保存精子卵胞质内单精子注射(ICSI)治疗非梗阻性无精子症所致不育进行临床总结,并对其影响治疗结果的因素进行探讨。方法:对62例非梗阻性无精子症患者进行经皮睾丸微穿刺活检,发现活动精子者(35例)对睾丸活检组织进行冷冻保存;女方促排卵常规使用促性腺激素释放激动剂(GnRHa)/卵泡刺激素(FSH)/人绒毛膜促性腺激素(hCG)方案,B超监测卵泡发育情况并引导经阴道取卵,冷冻的睾丸组织解冻后行ICSI,良好胚胎进行移植。结果:取卵周期为35个,冷冻的睾丸精子解冻后行ICSI,35个周期进行常规胚胎移植。13例临床妊娠。启动周期、取卵周期与移植周期临床妊娠率均为37.14%(13/35)。结论:经皮睾丸微穿刺活检后ICSI是治疗非梗阻性无精子症所致不育的最主要和有效的方法;活检后对有活动精子的睾丸组织进行冷冻保存不影响治疗结果,可以减少患者睾丸活检的次数,减轻患者痛苦。     

单精子卵细胞质内注射治疗梗阻性无精子症

目的:总结单精子卵细胞质内注射治疗梗阻性无精子症的诊疗经验。方法:回顾总结2006年1月～2008年12月间107例梗阻性无精子症病例ICSI助孕资料,比较先天性输精管缺如组与非先天性输精管缺如组之间受精率、卵裂率以及妊娠率的差异。结果:107例梗阻性无精子症病例ICSI助孕中共行单精子卵细胞质内注射949枚卵子,形成受精卵678枚(受精率71.4%),获得胚胎卵裂605枚(卵裂率89.2%),临床妊娠44例,临床妊娠率41.1%。其中先天性输精管缺如49例,行单精子卵细胞质内注射442枚卵子,形成受精卵308枚(受精率69.6%),获得胚胎卵裂279枚(卵裂率90.6%),临床妊娠27例,临床妊娠率55.1%;炎症或手术等原因引起的梗阻性无精子症58例,行单精子卵细胞质内注射507枚卵子,形成受精卵370枚(受精率72.9%),获得胚胎卵裂326枚(卵裂率88.1%),临床妊娠17例,临床妊娠率29.3%。两组比较受精率、卵裂率无统计学差异(P>0.05),临床妊娠率有统计学差异(P<0.01)。结论:采用经皮附睾或睾丸穿刺抽吸精子结合ICSI技术助孕是治疗梗阻性无精子症的安全有效方法。先天性输精管缺如较其它原因所导致的梗阻性无精子症有更高的临床妊娠率。炎症或手术等原因除引起精道梗阻外也可能影响精子的质量,导致胚胎发育潜能下降。     

不同来源精子对卵胞浆内单精子注射治疗结局的影响

目的分析不同来源精子对卵胞浆内单精子注射术(ICSI)治疗后的胚胎发育及治疗结局的影响。方法回顾性分析来我院行ICSI助孕治疗的144对不育夫妇(共154个周期),其中96个周期(A组,89对夫妇)的精子来源为严重少、弱精子症患者的射出精子,32个周期(B组,30对夫妇)为附睾精子,26个周期(C组,25对夫妇)为睾丸精子。比较三组经ICSI治疗后的2PN率、2PN卵裂率、优质胚胎率、种植率、妊娠率。结果 B组的2PN率、2PN卵裂率、优质胚胎率、妊娠率和种植率与A组相比,均无统计学差异(P0.05);C组2PN率、优质胚胎率低于A组、B组(P0.01),而妊娠率、种植率3组间无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论尽管睾丸精子行ICSI可能影响受精及早期胚胎发育,但与严重少弱精患者的射出精子及附睾来源的精子行ICSI的妊娠结局没有显著差异。     

Severe hypospermatogenesis in cases of nonobstructive azoospermia: should we use fresh or frozen testicular spermatozoa?

The aim of this comparative clinical study was to examine whether the fertilizing potential of frozen-thawed testicular sperm in the most severe cases of hypospermatogenesis is reduced compared with fresh testicular sperm. The results could determine the necessity of using fresh testicular sperm cells, which mandates involving the spouse by performing simultaneous in vitro fertilization intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI) treatment in this subgroup of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients. We studied 13 couples in which the husband was diagnosed as having NOA and few motile testicular sperm cells or only immotile testicular sperm cells were isolated by testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Each couple underwent both an ICSI cycle, in which fresh testicular sperm that were retrieved shortly beforehand were injected, and a consecutive cycle, which used frozen-thawed sperm that were retrieved in the original TESE procedure but were cryopreserved and stored until use. We found that motility was lost during the freezing and thawing process in some cases, which resulted in significantly more cycles with only immotile sperm cells for injection in the frozen-thawed sperm group (38.5%) than in the fresh sperm group (7.7%; P < .05). Availability of only immotile sperm cells significantly reduced fertilization rates in both fresh and frozen-thawed groups, but the respective overall fertilization rate (44.9% vs 41.1%) and quality of embryos and pregnancy rate (18.2% vs 15.4%) were not significantly different between groups. Implantation rates were more favorable in the fresh sperm group (10.5% vs 5.9%), but not significantly so. We conclude that, although cryopreservation does impair motility, which results in significantly more cycles with only immotile sperm cells for ICSI in the most severe forms of hypospermatogenesis, fertilization and pregnancy rates are not significantly compromised.     

常规体外受精失败卵母细胞行早期补救卵胞浆内显微注射的临床应用价值

目的探讨常规体外受精-胚胎移植（IVF—ET）中受精障碍患者行早期补救卵胞浆内单精子注射（ICSI）的可行性。方法回顾性分析我院生殖中心2007年1月至2009年7月常规IVF—ET治疗877周期,其中2008年3月至2009年7月期间开展短时受精并对受精障碍周期行早期补救ICSI的546周期作为研究组,2007年1月至2008年2月期间未开展短时受精、早期补救ICSI的331周期作为对照组。研究组通过IVF后6h观察卵母细胞是否排出第2极体评估受精,对完全未受精和低受精周期中未见第二极体排出的成熟卵母细胞立即行早期补救ICSI,比较两组临床及实验室指标。研究组中行早期补救ICSI的70周期实验室指标和临床指标与同期179个常规ICSI周期相比较。结果研究组通过早期补救ICSI,受精率、周期冷冻率、优质胚胎率均比对照组显著提高（P〈O．01）,因受精失败取消移植率显著降低（P〈O．01）。早期补救ICSI周期受精率、可移植胚胎率、临床妊娠率及胚胎种植率与常规ICSI相似,正常受精率、卵裂率和优质胚胎率显著低于常规ICSI,≥3原核（PN）异常受精的比率较常规ICSI略有升高,但无显著性差异。结论IVF后6h行早期补救ICSI能提高常规IVF卵的利用率,并获得与常规ICSI相似的临床妊娠结局。     

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection in the treatment of male infertility due to obstructive or non-obstructive azoospermia

<正> Objective:To evaluate the effects of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) ontreatment of infertility due to obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia.Methods:A retrospective analysis of fertilization,cleavage,embryo implantationand pregnancy rates was done in 158 ICSI cycles including 112 obstructive azoospermiaand 46 non-obstructive azoospermia.Ovarian hyperstimulation and ICSI procedureswere performed by conventional protocol.The sperm was collected by percutaneous epi-didymal sperm aspiration (PESA) or testicular sperm extraction (TESE).Results:The fertilization rate (73.1% vs.67.0%),cleavage rate (88.6% vs.86.3%),embryo implantation rate (20.7% vs.11.4%),clinical pregnancy rate per trans-fer cycle (35.7% vs.19.6%) were obtained for obstructive and non-obstructiveazoospermia,respectively.Conclusion:The results revealed that in the cases of obstructive azoospermia,ferti-lization rate,embryo implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were significantlyhigher than those of non-obstructive azoospermia.But there was no significant differ-ence of the cleavage rate between two groups.     

Effect on clinical outcome of the interval between collection of epididymal and testicular spermatozoa and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in obstructive azoospermia

We wished to determine whether the interval between surgical retrieval of epididymal and testicular spermatozoa in obstructive azoospermia and their subsequent use in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has an effect on their fertilizing capacity and pregnancy rates in patients undergoing ICSI. This was a retrospective review of 164 consecutive cycles of ICSI in partners of men undergoing surgical sperm retrieval for obstructive azoospermia. Seventy-three cycles used fresh testicular spermatozoa; in 35 cycles ICSI was performed within 4 hours of sperm retrieval, and in 38 cycles spermatozoa were incubated overnight before ICSI. Epididymal spermatozoa were used in 29 cycles; 22 cases within 4 hours of retrieval and 7 cases following overnight culture. Cyropreserved testicular and epididymal spermatozoa were used in 42 and 20 ICSI cycles, respectively. Fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates were calculated for each treatment group. Fertilization rates for epididymal spermatozoa were 67% at 4 hours, 56% at 24 hours, and 63% for cryopreserved spermatozoa (P =.52). Fertilization rates for testicular spermatozoa were 63% at 4 hours, 71% at 24 hours, and 60% for cryopreserved spermatozoa (P =.16). Unlike testicular spermatozoa, cryopreserved epididymal spermatozoa showed a significant increase in clinical pregnancy rates with cryopreservation, with rates of 4 of 22, 1 of 7, and 10 of 20 at 4 hours, 24 hours, and cryopreservation, respectively (P =.049). This study confirms that fertilization and pregnancy rates following ICSI with motile spermatozoa are unaffected by the duration between surgical retrieval of spermatozoa and their injection into oocytes. It also demonstrates that of all treatment modalities, the use of frozen epididymal spermatozoa was associated with the greatest pregnancy rates.     

Virtual azoospermia and cryptozoospermia--fresh/frozen testicular or ejaculate sperm for better IVF outcome?

Men diagnosed as having azoospermia occasionally have a few mature sperm cells in other ejaculates. Other men may have constant, yet very low quality and quantity of sperm cells in their ejaculates, resulting in poor intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome. It has not been conclusively established which source of sperm cells is preferable for ICSI when both ejaculate and testicular (fresh or frozen) sperm cells are available. It is also unclear whether there is any advantage of fresh over frozen sperm if testicular sperm is to be used. We used ejaculate, testicular (fresh or frozen) sperm cells, or both for ICSI in 13 couples. Five of these couples initially underwent ICSI by testicular sperm extraction, because the males had total azoospermia, and in later cycles with ejaculate sperm cells. Ejaculate sperm cells were initially used for ICSI in the other 8 patients, and later with testicular sperm cells. The fertilization rate was significantly higher when fresh or frozen-thawed testicular sperm cells were used than when ejaculated sperm cells were used. Likewise, the quality of the embryos from testicular (fresh and frozen) sperm was higher than from ejaculated sperm (65.3% vs 53.2%, respectively, P < .05). The use of fresh testicular sperm yielded better implantation rates than both frozen testicular sperm and ejaculate. Therefore, fresh testicular sperm should be considered first for ICSI in patients with virtual azoospermia or cryptozoospermia because of their superior fertility.     

ICSI treatment of severe male infertility can achieve prospective embryo quality compared with IVF of fertile donor sperm on sibling oocytes

Azoospermia, cryptozoospermia and necrospermia can markedly decrease the ability of males to achieve pregnancy in fertile females. However, patients with these severe conditions still have the option to be treated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to become biological fathers. This study analyzed the fertilization ability and the developmental viabilities of the derived embryos after ICSI treatment of the sperm from these patients compared with in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment of the proven-fertile donor sperm on sibling oocytes as a control. On the day of oocyte retrieval, the number of sperm suitable for ICSI collected from two ejaculates or testicular sperm extraction was lower than the oocytes, and therefore, excess sibling oocytes were treated by IVF with donor sperm. From 72 couples (73 cycles), 1117 metaphase II oocytes were divided into 512 for ICSI and 605 for IVF. Compared with the control, husbands’ sperm produced a lower fertilization rate in nonobstructive azoospermia (65.4% vs 83.2%; P < 0.001), crytozoospermia (68.8% vs 75.5%; P < 0.05) and necrospermia (65.0% vs 85.2%; P < 0.05). The zygotes derived in nonobstructive azoospermia had a lower cleavage rate (96.4% vs 99.4%; P < 0.05), but the rate of resultant good-quality embryos was not different. Analysis of the rates of cleaved and good-quality embryos in crytozoospermia and necrospermia did not exhibit a significant difference from the control. In conclusion, although the sperm from severe male infertility reduced the fertilization ability, the derived embryos had potential developmental viabilities that might be predictive for the expected clinical outcomes.     

Quality of cryopreserved testicular sperm in patients with obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia

PURPOSE: Sperm retrieved by testicular sperm extraction is routinely used to attempt pregnancy by in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection. We evaluated the efficacy of cryopreserving testicular sperm collected by testicular sperm extraction at diagnostic biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 73 men with obstructive and 42 with nonobstructive azoospermia underwent testicular sperm extraction at diagnostic biopsy. Sperm was retrieved and cryopreserved in all cases of obstruction and in 15 of nonobstructive azoospermia cases. Before freezing we determined sperm count, motility, morphology and viability, and after thawing we assessed sperm motility and viability. In 17 couples a total of 20 cycles of in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection were performed and fertilization, cleavage and pregnancy rates were determined in cases of obstruction and nonobstruction. RESULTS: Sperm count and morphology were lower in the testicular biopsies of men with nonobstructive versus obstructive azoospermia. Motility was low or absent in all testicular sperm extraction specimens. Importantly, pre-freeze (63%) and post-thaw (31%) viability was the same in both patient groups. After in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection using frozen and thawed testicular sperm the fertilization, cleavage, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates were 60, 86, 16 and 50%, respectively. Using cryopreserved sperm we observed no differences in outcome of any in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure in patients with obstructive versus nonobstructive azoospermia. CONCLUSIONS: Cryopreservation of testicular sperm provides enough good quality sperm after thawing to result in excellent in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes. Cryopreservation does not adversely affect intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes, including pregnancy rate. Therefore, we recommend routine testicular sperm extraction and cryopreservation of sperm at testicular biopsy.     

Impact of testicular histopathology as a predictor of sperm retrieval and pregnancy outcome in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia: correlation with clinical and hormonal factors

In this study, our objective was to evaluate the impact of testicular histopathology on the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles of patients with nonobstructive azoospermia and correlate with clinical and hormonal parameters. For this purpose, 271 patients with nonobstructive azospermia (NOA) who underwent testicular sperm extraction (TESE) for ICSI cycles were retrospectively evaluated for sperm retrieval, fertilisation, embryo cleavage, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates among different testicular histology groups. We also correlated hormonal and clinical factors with histological findings. Sperm retrieval and fertilisation rates (FR) were found to be significantly different among all testicular histological groups of NOA except for embryo cleavage, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. Furthermore, serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level was the most significant variable to predict sperm recovery on TESE. Separate analyses within each testicular histological group revealed that higher FSH was also associated with lower pregnancy rates in only maturation arrest group. In conclusion, testicular histology significantly influences sperm retrieval and FRs but not pregnancy and live birth rates in nonobstructive azoospermia. However, FSH is the best predictor of a successful TESE.     

The motility of epididymal or testicular spermatozoa does not directly affect IVF/ICSI pregnancy outcomes

Our objective was to determine whether the presence of motility in surgically obtained sperm samples improves fertilization and pregnancy rates for patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). This was a retrospective study in a hospital-based infertility center. Sixty-seven couples with a diagnosis of azoospermia or severe oligozoospermia who had undergone a sperm retrieval procedure in conjunction with 100 IVF/ICSI cycles from 1995 to 2004 were evaluated. The impact of sperm motility on fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates was determined. The motile and nonmotile sperm groups differed in the number of mature oocytes retrieved (10.7 +/- 5.8 vs 13.4 +/- 6.0), but fertilization (56.7% vs 59.1%) and embryo cryopreservation rates (35.9% vs 39.3%) were statistically similar. Clinical pregnancy rates did not differ between the motile (38.5%) and nonmotile (31.2%) groups, nor did they differ between obstructive and nonobstructive patients (35.3% vs 26.7%). There was also no statistical difference in pregnancy rates between testicular and epididymal aspiration (35.3% vs 26.7%), although epididymal sperm were significantly more likely to be motile than testicular sperm (100% vs 39.3%, P < .0001). Epididymal aspiration is more likely to produce motile sperm than testicular sperm retrieval. The use of motile sperm from epididymal or testicular samples, however, does not appear to enhance fertilization or clinical pregnancy rates.