PERCUTANEOUS EPIDIDYMAL SPERM ASPIRATION FOR OBSTRUCTIVE AZOOSPERMIA

We report the use of percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration as a sim pler and more acceptable alternative to microscopic epididymal sperm a spiration for patients with obstructive azoospermia in whom bypass sur gery is not feasible or has not been successful. Some contamination of the aspirate with blood is inevitable, but with careful sperm prepara tion techniques this can be reduced substantially in the final aliquot used for assisted conception. Spermatozoa with active forward progres sion may be used for gamete intra-Fallopian transfer treatment, but wh en this capacity is absent intracytoplasmic sperm injection is recomme nded. Three pregnancies were obtained in seven couples and a set of tw ins has been delivered.