In vitro retrieval of epididymal sperm: a new approach to achievement of pregnancy for post-testicular azoospermia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of in vitro retrieval of epididymal sperm for pregnancy induction for obstructive azoospermia patients.


METHODS
Patients were divided into three groups as follows: [1] ductal obstruction with previous epivasostomy (group I); [2] ductal obstruction with previous epididymitis (group II); and [3] ductal obstruction without previous epivasostomy or epididymitis (group III).


METHODS
A university teaching hospital.


METHODS
Twenty infertile males with obstructive azoospermia.


METHODS
Epididymides were detached surgically just after harvest of oocytes from corresponding wives and severed into three pieces (caput, corpus, and cauda). Each piece was dissected and squeezed in Ham's F-10 medium to retrieve the sperm. After completion of sperm preparation, IVF of their wives' oocytes and zygote intrafallopian transfer followed.


RESULTS
Overall pregnancy rate by in vitro retrieval of epididymal sperm was 35% (7 of 20). The rate for group I was 0%, or 0 of 6; for group II the rate was 0%, or 0 of 3; and for group III it was 63.6%, or 7 of 11.


CONCLUSIONS
In vitro retrieval of epididymal sperm can be a new method for inducing pregnancy in surgically incorrectable obstructive azoospermia.
Department of Urology, Yonsei University, Wonju College of Medicine, Korea.
S J
SJ
Kim
H D
HD
Han
D004822:Epididymis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D015181:Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome