High serum FSH levels in men with nonobstructive azoospermia does not affect success of microdissection testicular sperm extraction.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the outcomes of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in patients with high FSH.


METHODS
Clinical retrospective study.


METHODS
Department of urology at a tertiary university hospital.


METHODS
Seven hundred ninety-two men with nonobstructive azoospermia.


METHODS
Micro-TESE followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed. The men were classified into four groups based on serum FSH levels: <15, 15-30, 31-45, and >45 IU/mL.


METHODS
Sperm retrieval, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates.


RESULTS
Testicular sperm were successfully retrieved in 60% of the men. Sperm retrieval rates in the groups of men with FSH values 15-30, 31-45, and >45 IU/mL was 60%, 67%, and 60% respectively; this was higher than the group of men with FSH < 15 (51%). Of those men who had sperm retrieved, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were similar in the four groups (46%, 50%, 52%, 46% and 38%, 45%, 44%, 36%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The chances of sperm retrieval using micro-TESE is just as common, if not better for men with elevated FSH levels than for men with lower FSH. Micro-TESE results appear to differ from earlier series that report low retrieval rates with random biopsies for men with elevated FSH. High FSH is not a contraindication for micro-TESE.
Ramasamy
Ranjith
R
Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
Lin
Kathleen
K
Gosden
Lucinda Veeck
LV
Rosenwaks
Zev
Z
Palermo
Gianpiero D
GD
Schlegel
Peter N
PN
D053713:Azoospermia / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042282:Microdissection / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*; D053625:Sperm Retrieval; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone