Comparison of three sperm retrieval techniques in spinal cord-injured men: pregnancy outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To compare pregnancy outcomes between three sperm retrieval techniques - electroejaculation, testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and prostatic massage - in spinal cord-injured men.


METHODS
Forty-four patients who became paraplegic due to spinal cord injuries by land mines and bullets, and who underwent infertility treatment during 1998-2005, were included. Eight men were treated with rectal probe electroejaculation, 26 with TESE and ten with prostatic massage. The pregnancy rate and live birth rate resulting from the embryo transfers of all cycles were calculated.


RESULTS
Eight singleton pregnancies were achieved, two in the electroejaculation group, four in the TESE group and two in the prostatic massage group. Live birth rate was not significantly different between the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that the different sperm retrieval techniques used to obtain semen in spinal cord-injured men resulted in similar pregnancy outcomes.
Engin-Uml Stün
Yaprak
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology Unit, Gülhane Military Medical Academy and Medical School, Gülhane, Turkey. ustunyaprak@yahoo.com
Korkmaz
Cem
C
Duru
Namik Kemal
NK
Başer
Iskender
I
D004542:Ejaculation; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011467:Prostate; D012099:Reproductive Techniques; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013094:Spermatozoa; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods*