Human pregnancy by in vitro fertilization (IVF) using sperm aspirated from the epididymis.
Spermatozoa were collected by microaspiration from the corpus epididymidis of a 42-year-old man with secondary obstructive azoospermia and used for in vitro fertilization. At insemination 61% of the spermatozoa were motile, with a motility index of 157. One of five eggs was fertilized and this was subsequently transferred to the patient's wife at the two-cell stage. Ultrasound examination and changing hormone levels confirmed an on-going pregnancy, which is currently at 30 weeks of gestation. This technique will provide a useful alternative for the management of some infertile men with obstructive azoospermia.
D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000628:therapy; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D011247:Pregnancy; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013243:Sterilization Reversal; D014659:Vasectomy