PURPOSE: To assess the viability of frozen-thawed embryos derived from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in azoospermic men. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 154 consecutive ICSI cycles using surgically retrieved sperm from azoospermic men and case-control comparison of subsequent frozen transfer cycles with those using embryos generated from ejaculated sperm. RESULTS: Patient and fresh cycle characteristics were similar in both groups. There were no differences between the two groups in the proportion of pronucleate (54% and 62%), and cleavage-stage embryos thawed (46% and 38%), post-thaw survival rates (retrievals: 69%; ejaculated: 73%) or quality of frozen embryos subsequently transferred. Implantation was significantly lower in frozen cycles where embryos were generated from surgically retrieved sperm (0% versus 11.5%; p = 0.03). Both clinical pregnancy rate (5% versus 21%) and live-birth rate (0% versus 21%) were lower in this group, but only the difference in LBR reached borderline statistical difference (p = 0.10). CONCLUSION: This small series demonstrates a significant impairment in implantation in FET cycles using embryos generated from surgically retrieved sperm and a trend towards a poorer pregnancy outcome.
PURPOSE: To assess the viability of frozen-thawed embryos derived from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in azoospermic men. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 154 consecutive ICSI cycles using surgically retrieved sperm from azoospermic men and case-control comparison of subsequent frozen transfer cycles with those using embryos generated from ejaculated sperm. RESULTS:Patient and fresh cycle characteristics were similar in both groups. There were no differences between the two groups in the proportion of pronucleate (54% and 62%), and cleavage-stage embryos thawed (46% and 38%), post-thaw survival rates (retrievals: 69%; ejaculated: 73%) or quality of frozen embryos subsequently transferred. Implantation was significantly lower in frozen cycles where embryos were generated from surgically retrieved sperm (0% versus 11.5%; p = 0.03). Both clinical pregnancy rate (5% versus 21%) and live-birth rate (0% versus 21%) were lower in this group, but only the difference in LBR reached borderline statistical difference (p = 0.10). CONCLUSION: This small series demonstrates a significant impairment in implantation in FET cycles using embryos generated from surgically retrieved sperm and a trend towards a poorer pregnancy outcome.
Authors: S Al-Hasani; L C Demirel; B Schöpper; M Bals-Pratsch; N Nikolettos; W Küpker; M Ugur; R Sturm; K Diedrich Journal: Hum Reprod Date: 1999-08 Impact factor: 6.918
Authors: G D Palermo; P N Schlegel; J J Hariprashad; B Ergün; A Mielnik; N Zaninovic; L L Veeck; Z Rosenwaks Journal: Hum Reprod Date: 1999-03 Impact factor: 6.918