Percutaneous vasal sperm aspiration and intrauterine insemination in the treatment of obstructive azoospermia

Objective: To treat obstructive azoospermia by using sperm recovered from percutaneous vasal sperm aspiration in IUI. Design: Clinical study. Setting: Institutional clinic in Jinan. Patient(s): Six men with obstructive azoospermia, three of whom were treated with percutaneous vasal sperm aspiration and IUI; sperm recovered from this procedure were used for IUIs. Intervention(s): Spermatozoa used for intrauterine injection were retrieved by percutaneous vasal sperm aspiration and incubated at 37°C for 40 to 60 minutes. Main Outcome Measure(s): Normal pregnancy. Result(s): Intrauterine insemination was performed in three patients for one or two cycles, with motile spermatozoa. There was one successful term delivery. Conclusion(s): Percutaneous vasal sperm aspiration can be used successfully to recover sperm in men with obstructive azoospermia for use in IUI. The technique is simple and less traumatic than an open surgical procedure.