Fertilization, Embryonic Development, and Pregnancy Rate using Fresh and Frozen Testicular Sperm in Hypospermatogenesis / 대한남성과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was performed to assess the fertilization, embryonic development and pregnancy rate using fresh and frozen-thawed testicular sperm from hypospermatogenic patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 84 cycles of ICSI were performed with fresh or frozen-thawed testicular sperm frm hypospermatogenesis patients. Of these, 55 cycles(65.5%) were performed with fresh sperm, and 29 cycles(34.5%) were performed with frozen-thawed sperm. Testicular tissue was frozen with the programmed cell freezer(Cryomagic I, Miraebiotech, Seoul, Korea). Fertilization was checked 18-20 hrs after ICSI. Embryo grade was assessed based on the day 2 and day 3 embryo morphology. Embryo grade was scored five groups, and good embryos were classified as grade I to grade II. RESULTS: The total percentage of fertilized embryos was 62.4%, the development of good embryos was 58.8%(290/493), and pregnancy rate was 39.2%(29/74). For fresh sperm, the percentage of fertilized embryos was 65.7%, the percentage of good embryos was 57.6%(204/354) and the pregnancy rate was 34.8%(16/46). For thawed sperm, the percentage of fertilized embryos was 54.4%, the percentage of good embryos was 61.9%(86/139), and pregnancy rate was 46.4%(13/28). Thawed sperm showed a higher percentage of good embryos and higher pregnancy rate than fresh sperm. CONCLUSIONS: In this study we obtained acceptable rates of fertilization and good embryos after ICSI with testicular sperm from hypospermatogenesis patients. Frozen sperm showed higher rates of good embryos and pregnancy than fresh sperm. Therefore both fresh and frozen testicular sperm are effective in ICSI for embryonic development and pregnancy in patients with hypospermatogenesis.