Successful in vitro fertilization and pregnancy by micromanipulation with epididymal sperm.

PURPOSE

To examine the effectiveness of micromanipulation on the treatment of the patients with obstructive azoospermia, subzonal insemination or partial zona dissection was performed using epididymal sperm of the 23 patients, and the in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) outcomes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Fertilized oocytes were obtained in 11 cycles of the 25 treated cycles, and six pregnancies were established by the subsequent ET. Through the analysis of 13 cycles in which both the micromanipulation and usual IVF insemination were performed, the fertilization rate per oocyte with the micromanipulation [25% (28/113)] was significantly higher than that with the usual insemination method [4% (4/102)]. The micromanipulation was most useful for the treatment of the patients with congenital absence of the vas deferens. Moreover, there was no need to aspirate a large volume of the epididymal fluid, but it was essential to prepare more than 10 mature oocytes retrieved.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that micromanipulation with epididymal sperm is an effective treatment for obstructive azoospermia, and careful preparations of sperm and well-controlled ovarian hyperstimulation are necessary for successful IVF-ET.