title: Fresh motile testicular sperm retrieved from nonobstructive azoospermic patients has the same potential to achieve fertilization and pregnancy via ICSI as sperm retrieved from obstructive azoospermic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the fertilization and pregnancy rates using fresh testicular sperm between nonobstructive azoospermic (NOA) patients and obstructive azoospermic (OA) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated sperm quality of testicular sperm retrieved by microdissection testicular sperm extraction (MD-TESE) in NOA patients and compared the fertilization rate and pregnancy rate via intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) between NOA and OA patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private hospital-based infertility research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 58 couples in which the husband was diagnosed with azoospermia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analytic examination of the outcomes and description of the NOA cases achieving pregnancies; oocyte retrieval and testicular sperm retrieval were performed simultaneously.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of fertilization rate and pregnancy rate at the first ICSI attempt.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Testicular sperm were retrieved from 17 of 40 NOA patients and 18 of 18 OA patients. Motile sperm were successfully retrieved from 16 of the 17 NOA patients. There was no significant difference in fertilization rate and pregnancy rate between OA and NOA cases. Of the 17 NOA patients, nine pregnancies were achieved using fresh motile testicular sperm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fresh motile testicular sperm retrieved from NOA patients may have the same potential to achieve fertilization and pregnancy as sperm retrieved from OA patients. The MD-TESE technique might contribute to the high retrieval rate of fresh motile testicular sperm even in NOA patients.
authors.affiliation: Kyono ART Clinic and Reproduction Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. skanto@ivf-kyono.or.jp
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanto
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Hironobu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasano
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arai
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kyono
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042282:Microdissection; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013081:Sperm Motility; D053625:Sperm Retrieval; D016896:Treatment Outcome