Testicular sperm extraction by Trucut needle and milking of seminiferous tubules: a technique with high yield and patient acceptability.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the sperm yield and patient acceptability of Trucut needle testicular biopsy followed by seminiferous tubule milking.


METHODS
Prospective case analysis.


METHODS
The Regional Fertility Center, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.


METHODS
Forty-one males with obstructive azoospermia (normal testicular volume and FSH and LH levels).


METHODS
Trucut needle testicular biopsies under local anesthetic with milking of the seminiferous tubules.


METHODS
Quantitation of sperm retrieved per biopsy core and patient follow-up by questionnaire.


RESULTS
A mean of 105,634 sperm (range, 5,000-427,800) were retrieved, and the mean biopsy weight was 9.17 mg. Twenty-six subjects found the biopsy painless and 15 were pain-free after biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
The Trucut needle can be used in combination with seminiferous tubule milking to obtain large numbers of sperm in men with obstructive azoospermia.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Institute of Clinical Science, Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK. N.mcclure@qub.ac.uk
E K
EK
Steele
J D
JD
Kelly
S E
SE
Lewis
J A
JA
McNally
J M
JM
Sloan
N
N
McClure
D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012099:Reproductive Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology