[Intracytoplasmic injection (ICSI) of cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa (Cryo-TESE): a retrospective study of the first 250 treatment cycles].

It is reported on the results of 250 treatment cycles in which we carried out intracytoplasmic injections (ICSI) with frozen and thawed testicular spermatozoa (cryo-TESE). Up to July 1997 we treated 127 patients, 225 embryo transfers were performed (90%), and an average of 2.3 preimplantation embryos were transferred. This resulted in 53 clinical pregnancies, six patients aborted (11.3%). The pregnancy rate was 21.2% per treatment cycle, 23.5% per embryo transfer, and 41.7% per patient. This so called cumulative pregnancy rate is still about to rise, because 49 out of the 72 non-pregnant patients are still in our ICSI-program. Twenty-two children are born, 2 twins and 1 triplet. All children are healthy and without any major malformations. We conclude from these results that using cryopreserved testicular sperm for ICSI is an effective and successful approach for the treatment of severe testicular insufficiency. In comparison to the use of native testicular sperm with the necessity of repetitive testicular biopsies, cryopreservation is advantageous in many concerns (e.g. logistic, organisatoric and financial) and is therefore recommended for clinical routine.