title: A comparison of the morphology of testicular, epididymal, and ejaculated sperm from fertile men and men with obstructive azoospermia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the morphology of testicular, epididymal, and ejaculated sperm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Morphology of the three types of sperm was assessed by using Tygerberg strict criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Regional Fertility Center, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two men with obstructive azoospermia and 10 fertile men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Trucut needle testicular biopsy and percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration under local anesthetic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Percentages of normal sperm and sperm with head, midpiece, and tail defects for testicular, epididymal, and ejaculated sperm. Testicular sperm morphology in men with obstructive azoospermia was compared with that of fertile men.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of normal testicular sperm (4.3%) differed significantly from the percentages of normal epididymal (10. 8%) and ejaculated sperm (9.6%). Testicular sperm morphology in men with obstructive azoospermia did not differ from that in fertile men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tygerberg strict criteria are not suitable for the assessment of testicular sperm morphology.
authors.affiliation: The Queen's University of Belfast, Institute of Clinical Science, and Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: McClure
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D004542:Ejaculation; D004822:Epididymis; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000473:pathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013082:Sperm Tail / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013737:Testis