INTRACYTOPLASMIC TESTICULAR SPERM INJECTION - AN EFFECTIVE TREATMENT FOR OTHERWISE INTRACTABLE OBSTRUCTIVE AZOOSPERMIA

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy of intracytoplasmic sperm injection with testicular spermatozoa. Materials and Methods: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed with spermatozoa obtained from testicula r biopsy specimens in 15 patients with obstructive azoospermia, in who m standard microsurgical procedures were not feasible or had previousl y failed. Results: Fertilization was achieved in 14 of 15 cycles. Mean fertilization rate per cycle was 63.6%. Four clinical pregnancies occ urred, for a pregnancy rate of 26.7% per started cycle and 28.6% per t ransfer. Conclusions: Intracytoplasmic testicular sperm injection is f ollowed by high fertilization rates, and offers the chance of a pregna ncy to otherwise intractably infertile couples with obstructive azoosp ermia.