title: Fresh and frozen epididymal sperm yield comparable pregnancy rates for intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
abstract: To determine if the use of fresh epididymal sperm is superior to frozen-thawed epididymal sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the authors reviewed the charts on all couples undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection at an academic center, using microsurgically aspirated epididymal sperm. Forty-nine couples undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection for male factor infertility, due to congenital absence of vas deferens or irreparable post-testicular obstruction were studied. The following parameters were measured: (1) fertilization rate per oocyte injected (two pronuclei at 24 h), (2) chemical pregnancy rate (two consecutively elevated serum b-hCG levels, and (3) clinical pregnancy rate (sonographic identification of fetal heart rate). Fertilization rates were 51 and 41%, chemical pregnancy rates were 27 and 30%, and clinical pregnancy rates were 19 and 27% in the fresh epididymal compared to the frozen epididymal sperm. This study shows no significant difference in outcomes using fresh or frozen epididymal sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Frozen-thawed sperm guarantees availability of sperm prior to oocyte retrieval.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Garrels
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Zini
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Casper
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Meriano
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Jarvi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012662:Semen Preservation; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*