附睾和睾丸精子活力对卵胞浆内单精子注射结局的影响

目的比较附睾或睾丸来源及其不同活力精子行卵胞浆内单精子注射（ICSI）的结局。方法回顾性分析2005年1月至2008年5月在本生殖中心经皮附睾精子抽吸术（PESA）、睾丸精子抽吸术（TESA）助孕的218例无精子症患者的资料,比较附睾和睾丸及其不同活力精子的正常受精率、卵裂率、优质胚胎率、临床妊娠率、种植率和早期流产率。结果附睾精子组与睾丸精子组比较,正常受精率、卵裂率、临床妊娠率、种植率和早期流产率无显著性差异（P〉0．05）;优质胚胎率附睾精子组显著高于睾丸精子组（P〈0．05）。附睾活动精子、睾丸活动精子和睾丸不活动精子的正常受精率显著高于附睾不活动精子（P〈0．01）;睾丸活动精子的正常受精率显著高于睾丸不活动精子组（P〈0．05）;以上各组间的优质胚胎率、临床妊娠率、种植率、流产率均无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论PESA操作简单且不影响妊娠率,无精子症患者行ICSI治疗时可首选附睾精子;附睾或睾丸不活动精子影响ICSI的受精率,应优先选择活力较好的精子,若无活动精子则选择睾丸不活动精子。     

无精子症病人100例取精方法及妊娠结局

目的 :回顾性分析 2 0 0 1年 1月～ 2 0 0 2年 1月在生殖中心行卵胞质内单精子注射 (ICSI)治疗的 10 0例无精子症男性的治疗结果。　方法 :经皮附睾精子抽吸术 (PESA)或睾丸精子抽提术 (TESE)获得精子 ,女方进行常规超排卵。分析激素水平 ,行睾丸组织学检查 ,评估取精的成功率、受精率、种植率和临床妊娠率。　结果 :76例(76 % )经PESA获得精子 ,2 3例 (2 3% )通过TESE获得精子。PESA和TESE组的受精率、种植率和临床妊娠率分别为 71.3%和 75 .18% ,2 0 .35 %和 2 2 .0 5 % ,4 2 .11%和 4 1.6 0 %。PESA组有 32例临床妊娠 ,其中 15例继续妊娠 ,15例已分娩 ,2例流产。TESE组有 10例临床妊娠 ,其中 6例继续妊娠 ,2例已分娩 ,2例流产。两组的受精率、种植率和临床妊娠率差异无显著性。在TESE组有 1例取精失败而放弃治疗。　结论 :激素水平和睾丸组织学检查不能预测附睾或睾丸取精的成功 ,PESA和TESE获得精子进行单精子注射是治疗男性无精子症的有效方法 ,两组的受精率 ,种植率和临床妊娠率差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。     

不同生精功能障碍无精子症患者行ICSI后胚胎发育潜能的研究

目的:分析不同生精功能障碍的无精子症患者行ICSI后其胚胎发育潜能。方法:149例患者分为生精功能正常组,轻度、中度和重度生精功能障碍组,采用经皮附睾精子抽吸术(PESA)或经皮睾丸精子抽吸术(TESA)抽取不同生精功能障碍患者的精子行ICSI,记录和分析胚胎的正常受精率、卵裂率、优良胚胎形成率以及妊娠率。结果:PESA与TESA组比较,正常受精率(%)为74.9±19.6 vs 66.3±22.7(P>0.05),卵裂率(%)为96.7±8.6 vs 92.8±19.8(P>0.05),优良胚胎率(%)为43.5±26.2 vs 35.0±29.4(P>0.05)以及妊娠率(%)为44.0 vs 52.0(P>0.05),均无统计学差异。生精功能障碍从正常组到重度组的正常受精率(%)变化依次为77.8±18.4、68.4±18.5、73.5±19.8、51.4±27.9,其中轻度生精功能障碍与正常生精组有差异(P<0.05),重度生精功能障碍组与其他各组有统计学差异(P<0.05);胚胎卵裂率(%)变化依次为96.7±9.2、96.5±15.0、93.9±12.1、93.7±11.1,各组无统计学差异;优良胚胎率(%)变化依次为47.1±25.8、40.3±27.6、36.2±23.1、15.0±24.6,重度生精障碍组与其他各组有统计学差异(P<0.05);妊娠率(%)依次为54.8%、50.0%、13.6%、10.0%,有统计学差异(P<0.05)。结论:采用PESA或TESA行ICSI在正常受精率,卵裂率,优良胚胎率以及妊娠率上较均无明显差异。随着患者生精障碍程度的加重,受精率、优良胚胎率以及妊娠率均显著下降,而卵裂率却无明显区别。     

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.     

冻融复苏微量精子行卵细胞胞质内单精子注射术的疗效及临床妊娠结局分析

目的:回顾性分析123例无精子症患者经皮附睾精子抽吸术(PESA)或经皮睾丸精子抽吸术(TESA)后冻融复苏微量精子行卵细胞胞质内单精子注射术(ICSI)的疗效及临床妊娠结局情况。方法:将采用微量冻融PESA、TESA精子行ICSI的病例归为冻融精子组,采用新鲜PESA、TESA精子行ICSI的病例归为对照组。比较冻融精子组与新鲜精子组组间及组内的双原核(2PN)受精率、优质胚胎率、临床妊娠率、流产率、宫外孕率、多胎妊娠率有无统计学差异。结果:PESA精子冻融组与新鲜组受精率、优质胚胎率、临床妊娠率、流产率、宫外孕率及多胎妊娠率分别为75.67%vs76.49%,64.96%vs66.19%,55.21%vs57.22%,13.21%vs12.61%,3.77%vs5.41%,37.74%vs37.84%(P>0.05),TESA精子冻融组与新鲜组受精率、优质胚胎率、临床妊娠率、流产率、宫外孕率及多胎妊娠率分别为74.41%vs76.43%,64.63%vs66.35%,46.81%vs53.39%,18.18%vs14.55%,4.55%vs1.82%,37.74%vs37.84%,组间及组内均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。PESA精子与TESA精子冻融复苏成功率为70.07%vs62.67%,无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:微量PESA及TESA精子冻融技术对无精子症患者来说是一种安全、经济、有效的治疗方法;精子冷冻复苏技术有待于进一步提高;该技术是否会增加子代远期遗传风险仍有待于进一步探讨和研究。     

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection using surgically retrieved epididymal and testicular spermatozoa in cases of obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia

This was a retrospective study of 115 patients who underwent 124 cycles of ICSI using surgically retrieved spermatozoa. The objective was to compare the results of ICSI in patients with obstructive azoospermia using epididymal spermatozoa (36 cycles) or testicular spermatozoa (58 cycles) with ICSI in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia using testicular spermatozoa (30 cycles). When epididymal spermatozoa were used for ICSI, the fertilization rate per injected metaphase-II oocyte and the clinical pregnancy rate per ICSI cycle were 60.4 and 25%, respectively. When testicular spermatozoa were used in obstructive cases, the fertilization rate and pregnancy rate were 57.9 and 34.5%. In non-obstructive cases the fertilization and pregnancy rates were 41.2 and 16.6%. When patients with obstructive azoospermia were regrouped according to the cause of obstruction, the fertilization and pregnancy rates were 59.1 and 35.1% in acquired obstruction and 58.7 and 24.3% in congenital obstruction. The fertilization and pregnancy rates were not statistically different ( p  > 0.05) when testicular or epididymal spermatozoa were used in obstructive cases; neither was statistically different ( p  > 0.05) when compared in patients with congenital and acquired obstruction. On the other hand, the fertilization and pregnancy rates in cases with non-obstructive azoospermia were significantly lower ( p  < 0.05) than in obstructive cases.     

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.     

Morphological and morphometric attributes of epididymal and testicular spermatozoa following surgical sperm retrieval for obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia

Whilst the morphological (shape) and morphometric (sperm head size) attributes of ejaculated spermatozoa have been well studied, the morphological and morphometric qualities of testicular and epididymal spermatozoa retrieved from males with obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia is much less documented. We wished to examine the effect of aetiology of azoospermia and site of retrieval on the attributes of retrieved spermatozoa. This was a prospective observational study of 30 consecutive successful sperm retrievals, six for nonobstructive azoospermia and 24 for obstructive, of which five were retrieved from the epididymis and the remainder from the testis. The proportion of morphologically normal testicular spermatozoa in patients with obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia was not significantly different (7% versus 7.6%, P = 0.97). Testicular spermatozoa from males with obstructive azoospermia showed an increase in frequency of sperm with small heads [47/180 (26%) versus 97/909 (11%), P = 0.036] as well as small acrosome and increasing vacuole formation over nonobstructive spermatozoa. Similarly, there was a significant increase in tail deformities and decreases in tail lengths in sperm from males with nonobstructive azoospermia. Epididymal spermatozoa showed significantly greater proportion of morphologically normal spermatozoa than testicular (20% versus 13%, P = 0.001) as well as a significant increase in acrosome vacuoles. Furthermore, morphometrically epididymal spermatozoa displayed with smaller head length, width and area than testicular spermatozoa. Testicular spermatozoa from obstructive azoospermia displayed significantly less tail defects (35% versus 57%, P = 0.003) as well as significantly longer tail lengths (30.6 microm versus 10.7 microm). These morphological and morphometric differences between epididymal and testicular and obstructive and nonobstructive spermatozoa may represent part of the natural maturation process. There were no associations between any morphological or morphometric abnormality with any significant parameter in subsequent use in ICSI.     

146例炎症梗阻性无精子症的临床评估和ICSI治疗结局分析

目的分析炎症梗阻性无精子症的临床评估和单精子卵胞浆内注射(ICSI)的治疗结局。方法前瞻性研究近5年间接受ICSI治疗的炎症性梗阻性无精子症的临床特征、精液和超声特点,经皮附睾穿刺精子抽吸术(PESA)或经皮睾丸穿刺取精术(TEFNA)结合ICSI治疗后观察受精、临床妊娠等结果。结果146例患者体检附睾均有增粗变硬或伴头尾部结节。82例患者曾有生育史、附睾炎症史或输精管附睾吻合手术史,其中72例PESA找到附睾精子;53例无上述病史者49例PESA找到附睾精子:另有精道远端梗阻11例。ICSI治疗146例167周期炎症性梗阻性无精子症的受精率、每周期临床妊娠率分别为81.1%和42.1%。结论炎症梗阻性无精子症具备典型的临床和超声特征,PESA附睾精子获取率高,ICSI治疗获得较高受精率和临床妊娠率。     

附睾及睾丸精子行ICSI治疗无精子症妊娠结局

目的 :回顾性分析 5 0例无精子症患者利用附睾或睾丸精子行卵细胞胞质内单精子注射 (ICSI)的治疗结局。　方法 :经皮附睾精子抽吸术 (PESA)或睾丸切开取精术 (TESE)获得精子行ICSI,评估取精的成功率 ,ICSI后的受精率、种植率及临床妊娠率 ,以精液精子ICSI组作为对照。　结果 :PESA、TESE与精液精子组分别注射MⅡ期成熟卵子 2 86、36 0、15 6 9个 ,受精率 3组差异无显著性 (74 .8% ,75 .2 %vs 77.5 % ,P >0 .0 5 )。种植率、妊娠率TESE与精液精子组差异无显著性 (2 9.87%vs 2 9.5 4 % ;4 8.15 %vs 5 2 .6 0 % ,P >0 .0 5 ) ,PESA组显著高于TESE组及精液精子组 (5 0 .85 %vs 2 9.87% ,2 9.5 4 % ;6 8%vs 4 8.15 % ,5 2 .6 0 % ,P <0 .0 5 )。PESA组共妊娠 17例 ,已分娩 6例 ,继续妊娠 9例 ,流产 2例 ;TESE组共妊娠 13例 ,已分娩 7例 ,继续妊娠 4例 ,流产 2例。　结论 :采用附睾或睾丸精子行ICSI是治疗男性无精子症的有效方法。     

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.     

Successful pregnancy and birth after intrauterine insemination using caput epididymal sperm by percutaneous aspiration

Aim: To manage male infertility with obstructive azoospermia by means of percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) and intrauterine insemination (IUI). Methods: Ninety azoospermic patients with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (BAVD, n=58) or bilateral caudal epididymal obstruction (BCEO, n=32) requesting for fine needle aspiration (FNA), PESA and IUI were recruited. The obstruction was diagnosed by vasography and determination of the fructose, carnitine and alpha-glucosidase levels in the seminal fluid. Results: The mean sperm motility, density, abnormal sperm and total sperm count of the caput epdidymis were 16 %±22 %, (12±31) ×106/mL, 55 %±36 % and (16±14)×106, respectively. In the 90 couples, a total of 74 PESA procedures and 66 cycles of IUI were performed. Three pregnancies resulted, including one twin pregnancy giving birth to two healthy boys, one single pregnancy with a healthy girl and another single pregnancy aborted at week 6 of conception. The pregnancy rate per I     

Uniform testicular maturation arrest: a unique subset of men with nonobstructive azoospermia

PURPOSE: We evaluated the clinical characteristics of men with uniform testicular maturation arrest and nonobstructive azoospermia or severe oligospermia, including the frequency of genetic defects and outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection with or without testicular sperm extraction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified a group of 32 men with nonobstructive azoospermia or severe oligospermia, uniform maturation arrest (single spermatogenic pattern on biopsy), and normal follicle-stimulating hormone (7.6 IU/l or less). These patients were identified from 150 intracytoplasmic sperm injection candidates with severe oligospermia (less than 10,000/cc) and 600 men with nonobstructive azoospermia undergoing attempted testicular sperm extraction-intracytoplasmic sperm injection between November 1995 and September 2006. These patients were characterized based on the frequency of genetic anomalies (karyotype or Y chromosome microdeletions). Rates of sperm retrieval by testicular sperm extraction, fertilization and pregnancy after ICSI were measured. RESULTS: Genetic anomalies were more common (45%) in men with uniform maturation arrest and normal follicle-stimulating hormone than other men with nonobstructive azoospermia (17%) undergoing testicular sperm extraction at our center (p <0.001). They had a lower sperm retrieval rate with testicular sperm extraction compared to other nonobstructive azoospermia patients (41% vs 60%, p = 0.05). Fertilization rate (37%) and clinical pregnancy (13%) were significantly less common than in other men with nonobstructive azoospermia (54% and 49%, respectively, p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with uniform maturation arrest and normal follicle-stimulating hormone are a clinically definable subgroup of men with nonobstructive azoospermia that have different treatment outcomes. They have a higher incidence of chromosomal abnormalities and Y chromosome microdeletions compared to other men with nonobstructive azoospermia. Despite having normal follicle-stimulating hormone and typically normal testicular volume, sperm retrieval may be difficult and the chance of successful pregnancy is limited.     

Sperm retrieval techniques for assisted reproduction

Different surgical methods such as PESA, MESA, TESA, TESE and micro-TESE have been developed to retrieve spermatozoa from either the epididymis or the testis according to the type of azoospermia, i.e., obstructive or non-obstructive. Laboratory techniques are used to remove contaminants, cellular debris, and red blood cells following collection of the epididymal fluid or testicular tissue. Surgically-retrieved spermatozoa may be used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and/or cryopreservation. In this article, we review the surgical procedures for retrieving spermatozoa from both the epididymis and the testicle and provide technical details of the commonly used methods. A critical analysis of the advantages and limitations of the current surgical methods to retrieve sperm from males with obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia is presented along with an overview of the laboratory techniques routinely used to process surgically-retrieved sperm. Lastly, we summarize the results from the current literature of sperm retrieval, as well as the clinical outcome of ICSI in the clinical scenario of obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermia.     

Men with nonobstructive azoospermia have Leydig cell hypertrophy but not hyperplasia

PURPOSE: We determined whether testicular histology in men with spermatogenic failure due to nonobstructive azoospermia shows true Leydig cell hyperplasia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Testicular biopsy specimens from 17 patients evaluated for infertility were retrospectively analyzed. Interstitial, tubular and Leydig cell volume were quantitatively evaluated. The total volume and number of Leydig cells per testicle were then calculated. RESULTS: In 10 patients with obstructive azoospermia testicular histology showed normal spermatogenic function, while 7 had nonobstructive azoospermia. Average testicular volume plus or minus standard deviation was significantly larger in those with obstructive versus nonobstructive azoospermia (18.0 +/- 7.0 versus 9.3 +/- 8.7 cc, p = 0.025). Interstitial versus tubular volume was 32% of the total testis in the obstructive and 63% in the nonobstructive groups (p = 0.003). Although Leydig cell volume was proportionally greater in men with nonobstructive versus obstructive azoospermia (13.3% versus 0.05%, p = 0.045), there was no significant difference in the average number of Leydig cells per testicle (3.96 x 10 and 6.17 x 10, respectively, p = 0.16). The average volume of individual Leydig cells was significantly greater in men with the nonobstructive condition (253.0 +/- 98.7 versus 174.0 +/- 57.7 microm., p = 0.045). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that men with nonobstructive azoospermia and those with normal spermatogenesis have an equivalent number of Leydig cells. However, the Leydig cells are hypertrophic and occupy a larger proportion of total testis volume in men with nonobstructive azoospermia. Therefore, patients with spermatogenic failure show Leydig cell hypertrophy but not hyperplasia.     

Male factors determining the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection with epididymal and testicular spermatozoa

During a period of 8 years, 1,079 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures with aspirated epididymal or testicular spermatozoa were performed. Epididymal spermatozoa were used in 172 cycles and testicular spermatozoa or spermatids in 907 cycles. Multiple biopsies were obtained from at least two different locations in the testes. Retrieved spermatozoa were used after cryopreservation (frozen) or immediately after aspiration (fresh). Three hundred patients had obstructive azoospermia (OA) or ejaculation failure. In 414 cases, azoospermia was caused by impaired spermatogenesis resulting from maldescended testes, chemotherapy/radiotherapy, or by Sertoli-cell-only syndrome, genetic disorders or unknown aetiology. Transfer rates, pregnancy rates and birth rates per ICSI cycle showed no statistically significant differences between testicular and epididymal spermatozoa in men with OA (28% average birth rates in both cases). However, birth rates differed significantly with regard to the status of spermatogenesis. Treatment of men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) resulted in a birth rate of 19% per cycle. In all patient groups, there was no difference in the birth rates achieved with fresh and cryopreserved spermatozoa. While testicular volume, follicle-stimulating hormone level and age of the male patient are no statistically significant prognostic factors, the underlying cause of azoospermia is the most important factor determining the outcome of ICSI with epididymal and testicular spermatozoa. The pregnancy rate is lower in NOA patients than in those with OA.     

不同生精功能和取精方式对无精子症ICSI妊娠结局的影响

目的 分析采用经皮附睾精子抽吸术(PESA)或经皮睾丸精子抽吸术(TESA)获得精子对不同生精功能无精子症进行卵泡浆内单精子注射(ICSI)治疗的妊娠结局.方法 经PESA获得附睾精子,经TESA获得睾丸精子,女方进行常规超排卵.两种取精方法获得的精子进行ICSI,比较其妊娠率.结果 216次采用PESA获得附睾精子,87次采用TESA获得睾丸精子,PESA和TESA组的妊娠率分别为41.7%和43.7%,(P>0.05).随着生精功能状态从正常到重度生精功能障碍的变化,其妊娠率依次为:46.8%,41.6%,36.7%和16.7%.其中生精功能正常组与轻度和中度生精功能障碍组差异无统计学意义,但与重度生精功能障碍组差异均有统计学意义.结论 采用PESA或TESA结合ICSI是治疗男性无精子症的有效方法,而且认为生精功能正常组和轻度及中度生精功能障碍三组无精子症患者均可试行ICSI.     

Pregnancy rates in relation to time intervals between repeat sperm-retrieval procedures

A total of 76 repeat sperm retrievals were carried out in 47 azoospermic men. The outcome of the procedures was evaluated regarding to the interval between two successive procedures. Sperm motility and pregnancy rate were not increased by increasing the interval between two successive sperm retrievals from less than 90 days to more than 180 days. The pregnancy rate declined from 50% with a less than 90-day interval to 25% with a more than 180-day interval. The trend did not quite reach the significance level. Pregnancy was obtained in only 27% of the couples where TESE was done the last time against 48 and 57% where PESA and TESA, respectively, were performed the last time (p < .05). This study suggests that sperm retrieval procedures in men with obstructive azoospermia can be carried out with time intervals of only 3 months to obtain an optimal pregnancy rate, and it might suggest that an epididymal aspiration procedure should be preferred for a TESE.     

Epididymal sperm aspiration for obstructive azoospermia

Epididymal sperm aspiration technique combined with assisted reproductive technology (ART) including intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has provided new frontiers for the treatment of unreconstructable obstructive azoospermia, including congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens and failed surgical intervention. Epididymal sperm is obtained by several procedures, including microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA), mini-MESA (Modified MESA), macroscopic epididymal sperm aspiration (MaESA) and percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA). Since 1991 in our department, epididymal sperm aspiration combined with ART was performed by MESA (26 cases, 41 times) and PESA (3 cases, 4 times). Motile sperm retrieval using MESA and PESA was obtained in 34 out of 36 times (94.4%) and 2 out of 4 times (50%), respectively. MESA-ICSI resulted in a 47.3% 2PN (metaphase II) fertilization rate per eggs and a 28.8% pregnancy rate per transfer. With advancement of ICSI technique in which frozen sperm can be used, elective sperm retrieval can be planned at our convenience. PESA is a convenient, inexpensive and effective outpatient clinic procedure for retrieving sperm assisted with ICSI. In summary, infertile couples need to be given realistic options regarding treatment outcome. The fertility potential and age of the female partner need to be considered when addressing male treatment options.     

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.