Comparison of the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection using fresh and frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa obtained by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration.

The study was conducted to compare the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) between fresh and frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa retrieved by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) from obstructive azoospermic men. Overall, 53 PESA procedures were performed in 42 obstructive azoospermic men, followed by ICSI procedures with either fresh (n = 40) or frozen-thawed (n = 13) epididymal spermatozoa. Comparing all ICSI cycles with fresh and frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa, the fertilization rates (77.4 vs 86.8%) and the cleavage rate (91.3 vs 95.1%) were not statistically different. A total of 64 embryo transfers were performed: 48 embryo transfers after the use of fresh epididymal spermatozoa and 16 embryo transfers after the use of frozen-thawed spermatozoa. The overall pregnancy rate per embryo transfer was also similar between both groups (40.8 vs 40%). The implantation rate per embryo (18.2 vs 12.7%), clinical pregnancy per embryo transfer (36.7 vs 33.3%) and delivery/ongoing pregnancy rate (36.7 vs 33.3%) were not statistically different. In conclusion, there were no significant differences of the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection using fresh and frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa obtained by PESA.

The outcome of sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection for obstructive azoospermia.

OBJECTIVES: To study the outcome of sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) from obstructive azoospermic men. METHOD: Overall, 50 sperm retrieval procedures were performed in 45 obstructive azoospermic men, followed by 57 ICSI procedures with fresh epididymal spermatozoa (n=40), fresh testicular spermatozoa (n=4) or frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa (n=13). RESULTS: Sperm retrieval was accomplished via percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) in 42 cases, testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) in 1 case and testicular sperm extraction (TESE) in 2 cases. TESA and TESE were only applied when PESA failed to produce enough spermatozoa for simultaneous ICSI. PESA was successful in 92 per cent of cases. Fertilization rate after ICSI was 79.6 per cent of the metaphase II oocytes. Seventy one embryo transfers were performed using both fresh and frozen thawed embryos resulting in clinical pregnancy in 39.4 per cent. Ongoing pregnancy was achieved in 35.2 per cent. CONCLUSION: ICSI has been shown to give a high fertilization and pregnancy rate with epididymal and testicular spermatozoa retrieved from obstructive azoospermic men. PESA is a noninvasive and simple technique for retrieving spermatozoa from obstructive azoospermic men. Therefore, it is suitable as the primary sperm recovery technique in patients with obstructive azoospermia.

No differences in outcome of surgical sperm retrieval with intracytoplasmic sperm injection at different intervals after vasectomy.

PIP: In view of the widespread use of vasectomy as a method of contraception, there is an increasing demand for vasectomy reversal. However, the pregnancy rate after vasectomy reversal is inversely related to the duration of the time interval following vasectomy. Reports document that intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has been found to dramatically improve the results for the treatment of men who require surgical sperm retrieval because of obstructive azoospermia. This study examined the effects of time interval after vasectomy on the outcome of surgical sperm retrieval with ICSI. A total of 17 patients with obstructive azoospermia from vasectomy underwent 21 cycles of ICSI and sperm retrieval at the Center for Assisted Reproduction and Embryology from January 1997 to August 1999. Results have showed that microsurgical vasectomy reversal can be a highly successful procedure; however, surgical sperm retrieval with ICSI can bypass all of the factors that interfere with fertility in men with a prolonged time interval after vasectomy and can also reduce female fertility problems that may occur concomitantly. Results also revealed no statistically significant differences in fertilization rates, implantation rates, or pregnancy rates among three groups with different time intervals since vasectomy. It is suggested that the time interval between vasectomy and surgical sperm retrieval with ICSI treatment has no effect on the outcome.^ieng

Comparison of the fertilization rate after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using ejaculated sperms, epididymal sperms and testicular sperms.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has been successfully used to achieve fertilization and pregnancies for patients with extreme oligoastheno-zoospermia using ejaculated sperms or patients with azoospermia using epididymal or testicular sperms. The aim of this study was to compare the fertilization rate after ICSI using ejaculated, epididymal and testicular sperms. Between January and September 1997, 10 azoospermic men underwent percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) or testicular sperm extraction (TESE) to recover sperm for ICSI. A total of 5 PESA cases and 5 TESE cases were performed at the Center for Assisted Reproduction & Embryology. Thirty-one patients performed ICSI using ejaculated sperms during the same period of time were used as a control group. ICSI using ejaculated sperms, epididymal sperms from PESA and testicular sperms from TESE was a highly successful technique, achieving fertilization rates of 78.5 per cent, 83.3 per cent and 80.8 per cent, respectively. Good fertilization rates were achieved without significant differences among the various sperm sources.

Sperm morphology evaluated by computer (IVOS) cannot predict the fertilization rate in vitro after intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sperm morphology assessment using the IVOS (Hamilton-Thorne Research Version 3 Dimension Program, Beverly, MA) system in prediction of fertilization rate in vitro after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). DESIGN: A prospective clinical study. SETTING: Diagnostic andrology laboratory and assisted conception service. PATIENT(S): Thirty-five patients from the ICSI program were evaluated. Semen samples were analyzed using a computerized system for conventional semen parameters, sperm movement characteristics, and sperm morphology. Only patients with three or more metaphase II (MII) oocytes available were studied. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Fertilization rates in vitro after ICSI were compared according to the sperm morphology obtained from the IVOS system. RESULT(S): Linear regression analysis of fertilization rates against the sperm parameters assessed by computer (IVOS), which included conventional semen parameters, sperm movement characteristics, percentage of normal sperm morphology, and percentage of each specific abnormal sperm morphology, did not reveal any significant correlations. The mean (+/- SEM) fertilization rates in the healthy prognosis group (normal sperm morphology > or = 4%) and poor prognosis group (normal sperm morphology < or = 4%) were 82.4 +/- 4.0% and 75.0 +/- 3.8%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean fertilization rate between both groups. Moreover, no statistically significant difference was found in overall fertilization rates in vitro between the two prognosis categories (79.6% versus 78.0%). CONCLUSION(S): Sperm morphology obtained from the IVOS system is not related to the outcome of ICSI and cannot be used for prediction of fertilization rate in vitro after ICSI.