Korean J Urol.  2007 Aug;48(8):843-848. 10.4111/kju.2007.48.8.843.

In Vitro Retrieval of Epididymal Sperm: An Analysis of 11 Years of Cumulative Data

• Kim JS
• Kim SJ
• Han HD

• KMID: 2061279
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4111/kju.2007.48.8.843

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the efficacy of in vitroretrieval of epididymal sperm for the induction of pregnancy in patients with post-testicular causes of infertility, and assess the sperm distribution within the epididymis of these patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Analyses of the sperm count and motility of sperm retrieved from the detached epididymis, and of the resulting fertilization and pregnancy outcomes were conducted. A total 62 infertile couples, due to post-testicular male causes, had sperm retrieved from the epididymis. The sperm count and motility, as well as the fertilization and pregnancy rates, were measured.
RESULTS
Epididymal sperm was retrieved from 60 males with post-testicular infertility. The average sperm concentration and motility of the sperm after sperm preparation were 43.0x10(6)/ml and 25%, respectively. The clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was 57.9%(11/19) with in vitro fertilization(IVF), 39.0%(16/41) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) using fresh epididymal sperm, and 42.9%(27/63) with ICSI using frozen epididymal sperm.
CONCLUSIONS
The in vitro retrieval of epididymal sperm is recommended as a simple and effective method to obtain viable sperm from infertile patients with obstructive azoospermia or sperm excretion disorders.

Keyword

Epididymal sperm retrieval; Male infertility; Azoospermia

MeSH Terms

Azoospermia
Epididymis
Family Characteristics
Female
Fertilization
Humans
Infertility
Infertility, Male
Male
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Pregnancy Rate
Sperm Count
Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
Sperm Retrieval
Spermatozoa*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Sperm concentration in the epididymal fluid obtained by the in vitro retrieval of epididymal sperm.

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  Fig. 2 Global sperm motility in the epididymal fluid obtained by the in vitro retrieval of epididymal sperm.

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  Fig. 3 Amount of epididymal sperm cryopreservation.

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  Fig. 4 Sperm distribution within the epididymis.

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