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Purpose: We evaluate microscopic (micro) testicular sperm extraction (TESE) timing relative to oocyte retrieval on intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome., Materials and Methods: Couples with nonobstructive azoospermia who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection with freshly retrieved spermatozoa were analyzed based on whether micro-TESE was performed at least 1 day prior to oocyte retrieval (TESE-day-before group) or on the day of oocyte retrieval (TESE-day-of group). Embryology and clinical outcomes were compared., Results: The percentage of patients who underwent a successful testicular sperm retrieval was significantly lower in the TESE-day-before cohort (62%) than in the TESE-day-of cohort (69%; odds ratio [OR] 1.4, 95% CI [1.1, 1.7], P < .001). The fertilization rate was also found to be significantly lower in the TESE-day-before group (45%) than in the TESE-day-of group (53%; OR 1.4, 95% CI [1.2, 1.7], P = .01). Although the association between the cleavage rate and TESE timing was not statistically significant, the implantation rate was found to be significantly higher in the day-before cohort (28%) than in the day-of cohort (22%; OR 0.7, 95% CI [0.6, 0.9], P = .01). Nevertheless, it was found that the clinical pregnancy and delivery rates were not statistically significantly associated with the TESE timing., Conclusions: Although sperm retrieval and fertilization rates were lower in the TESE-day-before cohort, the 2 cohorts showed comparable embryologic and clinical outcomes. Micro-TESE can be performed before oocyte harvesting to provide physicians ample time to decide between cancelling oocyte retrieval or retrieving oocytes for cryopreservation.

Purpose: Men who survive cancer as children or young adults may have severe spermatogenic impairment with azoospermia requiring surgical sperm retrieval and assisted reproductive technologies. We assessed treatment outcomes from a large series of cancer patients with prior radiation and/or chemotherapy., Materials and Methods: Men with nonobstructive azoospermia who underwent initial microsurgical testicular sperm extraction from 1995-2020 from a high-volume surgeon at a single institution were identified. Those with a history of malignancy treated by radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy were included. The primary outcome was successful sperm retrieval., Results: A total of 106 men were evaluated, of whom 57 received chemotherapy and radiation, 44 received only chemotherapy and 5 received only radiation. Sperm retrieval was successful in 39 of 106 (37%) men, with higher likelihood of retrieval in men who received only chemotherapy compared to men who received chemotherapy and radiation (61% vs 18%, p <0.001). None of the 18 patients who received chemotherapy with radiation to the pelvis had successful sperm retrieval, compared to 26% of patients who received chemotherapy with extra-pelvic radiation (p=0.02)., Conclusions: Chemotherapy and radiation for cancer may result in nonobstructive azoospermia that can be treated to allow fertility. However, pelvic radiation therapy is associated with the worst prognosis for successful treatment with microsurgical sperm retrieval and in vitro fertilization; we observed no cases of successful retrieval in men who received pelvic radiation therapy. These data are useful for pretreatment counseling, suggesting that men with prior radiation therapy may not be candidates for surgical sperm retrieval.

Purpose: We assessed sperm chromatin fragmentation at different levels of the male genital tract., Materials and Methods: Ejaculated specimens from consenting male partners were screened for sperm chromatin fragmentation by TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling). Men with intracytoplasmic sperm injection failure and high ejaculated sperm chromatin fragmentation underwent surgery to retrieve spermatozoa from different levels of the male genital tract, which were then reassessed for sperm chromatin fragmentation. Approximately 500 or more spermatozoa were assessed per patient with a 15% threshold. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection results of cycles using spermatozoa from different levels of the male genital tract were compared., Results: Topographical assessment of the male genital tract showed a mean ± SD of 20.4% ± 10% sperm chromatin fragmentation in the vas deferens, 15.8% ± 8% in the epididymis and 11.4% ± 6% in the testis. All values were lower than in ejaculated controls (mean 32.9% ± 20%, p <0.05). A total of 25 couples who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection with surgically retrieved spermatozoa had lower sperm chromatin fragmentation (p <0.001), and higher implantation, clinical pregnancy and delivery rates (p <0.01). A total of 45 couples with a history of intracytoplasmic sperm injection failure with ejaculate performed elsewhere were treated solely with surgically retrieved spermatozoa at our center. Compared to historical cycles, surgically retrieved spermatozoa had a lower fertilization rate (65%, p <0.05) but enhanced rates of implantation (19.1%), clinical pregnancy (40.0%) and delivery (34.3%) (each p <0.01)., Conclusions: To our knowledge we report for the first time that sperm chromatin fragmentation increases progressively from the testicle to the epididymis and the vas deferens, and is highest in the ejaculate. Men with high ejaculated sperm chromatin fragmentation can benefit from using surgically retrieved sperm for in vitro fertilization and/or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.

Purpose: Men with azoospermia and severe testicular atrophy may be counseled to avoid sperm retrieval due to perceived limited success. We evaluated the outcomes of microdissection testicular sperm extraction in men with severe testicular atrophy (volume 2 ml or less)., Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of 1,127 men with nonobstructive azoospermia who underwent microdissection testicular sperm extraction followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. They were classified into 3 groups based on average testicular volume, including 2 ml or less, greater than 2 to less than 10 and 10 or greater. Sperm retrieval, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were calculated. Clinical features evaluated included age, follicle-stimulating hormone level, cryptorchidism history, Klinefelter syndrome, varicocele and testicular histology on diagnostic biopsy., Results: Testicular sperm were successfully retrieved in 56% of the men. The sperm retrieval rate in those with a testicular volume of 2 ml or less, greater than 2 to less than 10 and 10 or greater was 55%, 56% and 55%, respectively. Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were similar in men in the 3 groups who underwent sperm retrieval (55.2%, 50.0% and 47.0%, and 47.2%, 43.0% and 42.2%, respectively). Of the 106 men with an average testis volume of 2 ml or less those from whom sperm were retrieved were younger (31.1 vs 35.2 years) and more likely to have a history of Klinefelter syndrome (82.2% vs 55.6%) than men in whom sperm were not found (p <0.05). Men in this group had a higher prevalence of Klinefelter syndrome than men with a testis volume of greater than 2 ml (72.6% vs 5.3%, p <0.0001). Men younger than 30 years with Klinefelter syndrome had a higher sperm retrieval rate than men older than 30 years without Klinefelter syndrome (81.8% vs 33%, p <0.01). There was no cutoff point for age beyond which sperm could not be retrieved in men with small testes. On multivariable analysis younger age was the only preoperative factor associated with successful sperm retrieval in men with small testes (2 ml or less)., Conclusions: Testicular volume does not affect the sperm retrieval rate at our center for microdissection testicular sperm extraction. Of men with the smallest volume testes those who were younger with Klinefelter syndrome had the highest sperm retrieval rate. Severe testicular atrophy should not be a contraindication to microdissection testicular sperm extraction., (Copyright © 2014 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: We examined preoperative factors that could predict successful microdissection testicular sperm extraction in men with azoospermia and nonmosaic Klinefelter's syndrome. We also analyzed the influence of preoperative hormonal therapy on the sperm retrieval rate., Materials and Methods: A total of 91 microdissection testicular sperm extraction attempts were done in 68 men with nonmosaic Klinefelter's syndrome. Men with serum testosterone less than 300 ng/dl received medical therapy with aromatase inhibitors, clomiphene or human chorionic gonadotropin before microdissection testicular sperm extraction. Preoperative factors of patient age and endocrinological data were compared in those in whom the procedure was and was not successful. The sperm retrieval rate was the main outcome. Clinical pregnancy (pregnancy with heartbeat) and the live birth rate were also calculated., Results: Testicular spermatozoa were successfully retrieved in 45 men (66%), representing 62 (68%) attempts. Increasing male age was associated with a trend toward a lower sperm retrieval rate (p = 0.05). The various types of preoperative hormonal therapies did not have different sperm retrieval rates but men with normal baseline testosterone had the best sperm retrieval rate of 86%. Patients who required medical therapy and responded to that treatment with a resultant testosterone of 250 ng/dl or higher had a higher sperm retrieval rate than men in whom posttreatment testosterone was less than 250 ng/dl (77% vs 55%). For in vitro fertilization attempts in which sperm were retrieved the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were 57% and 45%, respectively., Conclusions: Microdissection testicular sperm extraction is an effective sperm retrieval technique in men with Klinefelter's syndrome. Men with hypogonadism who respond to medical therapy may have a better chance of sperm retrieval.

Purpose: Men with spermatogenic failure so profound that they are considered as having nonobstructive azoospermia occasionally have spermatozoa in the ejaculate. We compared intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes following the injection of ejaculated or surgically retrieved spermatozoa from these men., Materials and Methods: A study was performed of intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles with no spermatozoa on initial semen analysis and 100 or fewer following centrifugation (cryptozoospermia). Only 16 couples that underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles with ejaculated spermatozoa and cycles with testicular spermatozoa were included., Results: Initial analysis was done to compare outcomes between the 2 semen origins. There was no difference in the rate of normal or abnormal fertilization between the 2 groups. The rate of clinical pregnancies seemed to favor testicular spermatozoa (47.4% vs 20.8%), although results were not significant. When a comparison was performed between the first testicular cycle and the ejaculated cycle closest in time to the cycle with testicular spermatozoa, a higher rate of normal fertilization with testicular spermatozoa was observed (60.9% vs 48.5%, p <0.05). Also, in this comparison a clear trend toward a higher percent of clinical pregnancies and deliveries in the testicular group was observed (50.0% vs 14.3%)., Conclusions: Transit through the male genital tract did not enhance the ability of ejaculated spermatozoa to achieve fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection compared to that of testicular spermatozoa in men with severely impaired production. In ejaculated samples a lower number of spermatozoa available resulted in an impaired chance of achieving pregnancy. Using testicular spermatozoa may be a reasonable alternative for couples in whom multiple attempts at intracytoplasmic sperm injection have failed using ejaculated sperm from men with cryptozoospermia.

Purpose: We present treatment results of testicular sperm extraction with intracytoplasmic sperm injection for men with nonobstructive azoospermia and reevaluate the role of testicular histology on open diagnostic testicular biopsy as a predictor of sperm retrieval success., Materials and Methods: We evaluated 75 men diagnosed with nonobstructive azoospermia. Cases were categorized into 3 groups of hypospermatogenesis, maturation arrest or Sertoli-cell-only based on the most advanced pattern of spermatogenesis seen on histology. A total of 81 testicular sperm extractions with intracytoplasmic sperm injection were performed for these 75 men. The main outcome measures reviewed included sperm retrieval, fertilization and pregnancy rates with intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Sperm retrieval success rates for men in the 3 histological categories were compared., Results: Spermatozoa were successfully retrieved during 47 of 81 (58%) testicular sperm extraction attempts, with subsequent fertilization of 268 of 439 (61%) injected metaphase II oocytes using intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Clinical pregnancies were obtained in 26 of 47 (55%) cycles when sperm were retrieved, with ongoing pregnancies or live deliveries for 20 of 47 (43%). Of 39 men with hypospermatogenesis on diagnostic biopsy 31 (79%) had successful sperm retrieval, compared to 9 of 19 (47%) with maturation arrest and 5 of 21 (24%) with a pure Sertolicell-only pattern., Conclusions: Critical examination of the most advanced pattern of spermatogenesis from open diagnostic testis biopsy allows prediction of sperm retrieval success with testicular sperm extraction. In this study population spermatozoa were retrieved in 58% of attempts. When this testicular sperm was used with intracytoplasmic sperm injection, clinical pregnancy rate was 55% for men with nonobstructive azoospermia.