A comparison of post-thaw results between embryos arising from intracytoplasmic sperm injection using surgically retrieved or ejaculated spermatozoa.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of freeze-thaw on embryos derived from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using surgically retrieved and ejaculated spermatozoa.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Private IVF center.


METHODS
Three hundred eighty-three patients undergoing frozen-thawed ET cycles.


METHODS
Testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) or percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) were the sperm surgical retrieval methods used for ICSI. Embryos resulting from ICSI using surgically retrieved and ejaculated spermatozoa were frozen, thawed, and transferred.


METHODS
Post-thaw survival, implantation, and pregnancy rates.


RESULTS
No differences were found between the ejaculated sperm and TESA/PESA groups in terms of post-thaw survival rate (68.4% vs. 66.1%, respectively), pregnancy rate (20.1% vs. 16.1%), and implantation rate (10.6% vs. 12.7%). Similar results were found for those variables when comparing TESA and PESA groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Cleavage embryos arising from ICSI cycles using testicular and epididymal spermatozoa can be frozen with survival, pregnancy, and implantation rates comparable to those obtained with ejaculated spermatozoa.
de Cássia Savio Figueira
Rita
R
Fertility-Assisted Fertilization Center, São Paulo, Brazil.
Madaschi
Camila
C
Nichi
Marcílio
M
Rodrigues
Débora
D
Pasqualotto
Fábio Firmbach
FF
Iaconelli
Assumpto
A
Borges
Edson
E
D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015925:Cryopreservation; D004542:Ejaculation; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D053625:Sperm Retrieval; D016896:Treatment Outcome