title: Impact of sperm cell source on the results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is an ongoing debate whether the source of sperm cells, the etiology or the extent of male factor infertility has influence on the outcome of ICSI cycles.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) according to the source of spermatozoa in patients with severe male factor infertility were compared in a retrospective study: 249 couples underwent a total of 337 fresh ICSI cycles with the use of fresh motile testicular or fresh motile ejaculated spermatozoa.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For all variables, there were no statistically significant differences in the ICSI results between both groups. Fertilization rates were 46.8% for testicular and 47.6% for ejaculated spermatozoa. Live birth rates per embryo transfer were 20.4% using testicular spermatozoa and 22.8% using ejaculated spermatozoa.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neither the source of spermatozoa nor the etiology of severe male infertility has relevant impact on the results of ICSI cycles as long as fresh motile, morphologically normal spermatozoa are used. Therefore, in case of cryptozoospermia, we recommend to preferentially use ejaculated spermatozoa to prevent those men from an unnecessary testicular biopsy avoiding risks and costs implied.
authors.affiliation: Green-IVF, Grevenbroich Endocrinology and IVF-Center, Rheydter Str. 143, 41515, Grevenbroich, Germany, dr.christian.gnoth@green-ivf.de.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gnoth
authors.forename: Vitaly
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Markhinin
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maxrath
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skonieczny
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Friol
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roos
authors.forename: Gohar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.forename: Erhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Godehardt
mesh_terms: D004542:Ejaculation; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D053625:Sperm Retrieval; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*