title: [Sperm retrieval for assisted fertilization in azoospermia].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Couples where the man presents azoospermia, could not be helped to become genetic parents by assisted reproduction in Norway until recently. A temporary permission to perform techniques that can help these couples was granted with a change in the Norwegian laws on biotechnology in 2004. Our experience with intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using sperm retrieved by testicular sperm extraction (TESE) is presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  94 couples (man with azoospermia) who had undergone examination and work-up at Fertilitetsklinikken Sør in the period 2004-06, were followed. Of these couples, 60 had been treated with TESE-ICSI. TESE is performed in an out-patient setting under local anaesthesia as an open testicular biopsy. By a special technique, sperm cells are retrieved from the biopsy and then used for fertilizing oocytes from the partner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  100 ovarian stimulation-cycles for TESE-CSI have been performed at our clinic. This has led to 82 Embryo Transfers (ET) using fresh embryos and 40 ET using frozen/thawed embryos. 39 clinical pregnancies have been achieved. Thus, there is a 39% chance for pregnancy per started stimulation-cycle. These results are comparable to those from ICSI using ejaculated sperm cells. The TESE-ICSI treatment seems to be a good method to help couples become genetic parents when the man presents azoospermia.
authors.affiliation: Fertilitetsklinikken Sør, Sykehuset Telemark, 3901 Porsgrunn. hans.ivar.hanevik@sthf.no
authors.forename: Hans Ivar
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Hanevik
authors.forename: Unn Mette
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Friberg
authors.forename: Anette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bergh
authors.forename: Siv Elin
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Karlsen
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isfoss
authors.forename: Jarl A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Kahn
mesh_terms: D053713:Azoospermia / Q000175:diagnosis; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*; D053625:Sperm Retrieval; D016896:Treatment Outcome