The impact of early testicular sperm extraction or cryopreservation on the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection--a randomized controlled study.

PURPOSE: To compare the outcome of sperm extraction 24 h before ovum pickup and on the day of oocyte retrieval. METHODS: A controlled study was performed to compare the outcome of 90 sperm extractions and in vitro sperm injection cycles performed in 54 patients. RESULTS: Available fresh sperm for the sperm injection procedure and cryopreservation obtained on the day of ovum pickup were similar to sperm collected 1 day before (33.3% vs 39.4%, respectively). Fertilization rate obtained with fresh sperm was also similar (48.9% vs. 54%), respectively. Clinical pregnancy rate was 38% vs. 22% per embryo transfer, respectively (P = 0.235). When comparing an additional 24 cycles with cryopreservation of sperm retrieved on the day of ovum pickup, as well as a day previously, no significance was noted in the parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Sperm retrieved 24 h before oocyte retrieval and used as fresh or frozen-thawed for sperm injection are as effective as those used on the day of ovum pickup.