ABSTRACT
Varicocele adversely affects semen parameters. However, the effect of varicocele repair on the sperm retrieval rate and testicular histopathological patterns in men with nonobstructive azoospermia has not been widely reported. We retrospectively assessed the sperm retrieval rates and testicular histopathological patterns in men with nonobstructive azoospermia who were referred to the Urology Clinic in Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (Jakarta, Indonesia) and Bunda General Hospital (Jakarta, Indonesia) between January 2009 and December 2019. We compared patients who had undergone a surgical sperm retrieval procedure for assisted reproductive technology no earlier than three months after varicocele repair and those who had not undergone varicocele repair. The study included 104 patients (age range: 26-54 years), 42 of whom had undergone varicocele repair before the sperm retrieval procedure and 62 who had not. Motile spermatozoa were found in 29 (69.1%) and 17 (27.4%) patients who had undergone varicocele repair before the sperm retrieval procedure and those who had not undergone the repair, respectively (relative risk: 2.51; 95% confidence interval: 1.60-3.96; P < 0.001). A predicted probabilities graph showed consistently higher sperm retrieval rates for patients with varicocele repair, regardless of their follicle-stimulating hormone levels. Patients who underwent varicocele repair showed higher testicular histopathological patterns (P = 0.001). In conclusion, men with nonobstructive azoospermia and clinical varicocele who underwent varicocele repair before the sperm retrieval procedure had higher sperm retrieval rates compared to those who did not undergo varicocele repair.
Subject(s)
Azoospermia , Varicocele , Adult , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Sperm Retrieval , Testis , Varicocele/surgeryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Management for male infertility can be difficult for some cases. Surgical intervention has long been thought as the last resort to help married couples to conceive. The current guideline recommends testicular sperm extraction with micro-surgery technique (microTESE) in severe cases of male infertility. However, the success rate still varies. Thus, a new strategy was needed to further increase the sperm retrieval success rate. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old male with a history of failed sperm extraction, non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and Y-chromosomal microdeletion came to the fertility center to undergo sperm retrieval. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) Mapping was performed prior to microTESE to increase the accuracy of sperm retrieval. After further examination with laser assisted immotile sperm selection (LAISS), five spermatozoa were found. CONCLUSION: The combination of FNA Mapping and microTESE increases the chance of a successful sperm extraction.
