title: Fertilization and pregnancy rates after intracytoplasmic sperm injection using ejaculate semen and surgically retrieved sperm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the fertilization rates and pregnancy rates (PRs) in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using sperm from ejaculates of normal and abnormal semen, epididymal sperm, and testicular sperm of obstructive and nonobstructive azoospermic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Egyptian IVF-ET Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred fifty patients underwent 366 ICSI cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  ICSI, epididymal sperm aspiration, and testicular biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fertilization rates and PRs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients were divided into five groups according to the quality and source of sperm. Patients in group 1 underwent 102 cycles of ICSI using ejaculated abnormal semen, group 2 underwent 44 cycles using epididymal sperm, group 3 underwent 82 cycles using testicular sperm from obstructive azoospermia, group 4 underwent 80 cycles using testicular sperm from nonobstructive azoospermia, and group 5 underwent 58 cycles using normal semen. There was no significant difference in the fertilization rates and PRs among groups 1, 2, and 3. In group 4, the fertilization rate and PR were significantly lower than in all other groups. In group 5, the fertilization rate was significantly higher than in all other groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The fertilizing ability of sperm in ICSI is highest with normal semen and lowest with sperm extracted from a testicular biopsy in nonobstructive azoospermia. There was no significant difference in fertilization rates and PRs between ejaculated sperm of different parameters and surgically retrieved sperm in obstructive azoospermia.
authors.affiliation: Egyptian IVF-ET Center, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aboulghar
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Serour
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fahmy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Tawab
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Amin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections / Q000379:methods; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology; D013094:Spermatozoa; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology