An adapted carrier for the cryopreservation of human testicular spermatozoa.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Does the adapted carrier Cryoplus improve the quality of cryopreserved spermatozoa compared with the use of conventional containers, and what is the effect of the adapted carrier on clinical outcomes?

DESIGN

Semen samples from 27 cases of oligozoospermia were used to investigate whether the adapted carrier improved cryopreserved sperm quality compared with the use of 0.25-ml straws and 2-ml cryogenic vials. Thirty testicular sperm samples were used to study the quality of testicular spermatozoa cryopreserved in the adapted carrier. The retrospective study included a further 104 men with azoospermia to investigate the clinical outcomes of testicular spermatozoa cryopreserved with the adapted carriers. Men with mostly obstructive azoospermia were included in this study.

RESULTS

The adapted carrier improved cryopreserved spermatozoa motility of semen samples compared with 2-ml cryogenic vials but not compared with 0.25-ml straws. No differences were found in cryopreserved sperm DNA fragmentation among the three carriers. Fertilization and good-quality embryo rates were similar in ICSI cycles using fresh or cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa. Additionally, no difference was evident between frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles using fresh or cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa in clinical pregnancy, implantation, miscarriage, live birth rates or birth weight.

CONCLUSIONS

The adapted carrier improved the cryopreserved sperm motility compared with the effects of 2-ml cryogenic vials. The outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection and frozen-thawed embryo transfer outcomes indicate that testicular spermatozoa cryopreserved using the adapted carrier is not inferior to fresh testicular spermatozoa. The use of the adapted carrier for cryopreserving human testicular spermatozoa especially from obstructive azoospermia is simple and effective.