SPERM RETRIEVAL AND PREGNANCY OUTCOME FOR AZOOSPERMIC INFERTILE MEN
Abstract
https://doi.org/10.31386/dmj.2021.15.1.3
Background: surgical sperm retrieval and in vitro fertilization using intracytoplasmic sperm injection is the only hope for the infertile men with permanent azoospermia to father a biologic child since its introduction by the Palmero group in 1992.
Aim of the study: To study the testicular sperm retrieval rate of azoospermic infertile men and the pregnancy outcome by intracytoplasmic sperm injection at Azadi infertility center.
Patients and methods: A retrospective study of 220 azoospermic infertile patients were evaluated and dealt with at Azadi infertility center at Duhok, Kurdistan, Iraq, during the period from 2011–2020. They were diagnosed with either obstructive or nonobstructive azoospermia. One hundred forty-three of them were subjected to conventional testicular sperm extraction for sperm retrieval, and the sperms, when detected, were cryopreserved if the surgery was performed in advance. Sixty-one couples accepted the option of intracytoplasmic sperm injection at the Azadi infertility center. Ovarian stimulation performed by the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist and antagonist protocol, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed by the embryologist. The pregnancy result was regarded successful if serum βhCG level is more than 25 mIU/ml two weeks after embryo transfer or miscarriage if serum βhCG level is below 25 mIU/ml or lack of fetal heart beating in trans vaginal ultrasound examination. The pregnancy is then followed regularly through the antenatal care unit. All the completed pregnancies were delivered by the Caesarian section.
Results: Out of 1301 infertile couples, 220 (16.9%) were azoospermic. Testicular sperm extraction was performed for 143 men. One hundred and one men (70.6%) were positive and 42 men (29.3%) were negative for sperm retrieval and 61 of them accepted to proceed for intracytoplasmic sperm injection, 47 (77%) with obstructive azoospermia and 14 (23%) with nonobstructive azoospermia. Freshly extracted sperms were used in 40 (65.6%) ICSI cycles while cryopreserved sperms in 21(34.4%) cycles. The number of ova retrieved ranged from 2-17 with a mean of 8.6. Successful fertilization confirmed in 57 cycles and positive biochemical pregnancy confirmed in 27 (47.3%), miscarriage in 4 out of 27 pregnancies (14.8%) and 16/57 (28%) gave live birth of 11 singletons, 4 twins and one triplet and seven still with ongoing pregnancy. Two birth defects were reported among the delivered babies.
Conclusions: The sperm retrieval rates in obstructive azoospermia were lower than the usual rates using the conventional testicular sperm extraction. Microsurgical testicular sperm extraction is advised for nonobstructive azoospermia. The fertilization rates, biochemical pregnancy, miscarriage and baby take home were within the usual rates no increase in the birth defects rates in ICSI.
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