INTRACYTOPLASMIC INJECTION OF EPIDIDYMAL AND TESTICULAR SPERMATOZOA AFTER PREVIOUS FAILURE OF ARTIFICIAL-INSEMINATION BY DONOR

We report on our experiences with intracytoplasmic injection (ICSI) of epididymal and testicular spermatozoa (MESA, TESE) from azoospermic m en whose wives had previously failed to become pregnant after several cycles of artificial insemination by donor (AID); because we do not pe rform AID treatment in our clinic. all these treatments were carried o ut in other fertility centers as well as the female diagnostic of ster ility. In 3 husbands we could not find any testicular spermatozoa or s permatids, leaving 15 women under treatment. Of these 15 women: 9 beca me pregnant. This accounts for a pregnancy rate per patient of 60%. We believe that functional defects of the oocytes and somatizing psychol ogical problems concerning AID are predominantly responsible for these results and that both problems can be overcome by ICSI. Besides, thes e results demonstrate that ICSI/MESA and ICSI/TESE are effective appro aches in the treatment of azoospermic men and that using cryopreserved spermatozoa is not disadvantageous in the outcome of ICSI.