Nocturnal sperm emission in men with psychogenic anejaculation

Objective: To evaluate sperm characteristics and fertilization potential in sperm obtained from nocturnal emission in men with psychogenic anejaculati on. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: In Vitro Fertilization Unit, Bikur Cholim Hospital, Jerusalem, Isr ael. Patient(s): Six men with psychogenic anejaculation. Intervention(s): Nocturnal emission, electroejaculation, sperm cryopreserva tion, and assisted reproduction technologies. Main Outcome Measure(s): Semen analysis, intracytoplasmic sperm injection ( ICSI), fertilization rates. Result(s): In four patients, the concentration and motility of sperm obtain ed from freeze-thawed nocturnal emission were decreased compared with sperm from electroejaculation. Fertilization rates after ICSI using the nocturna l emission sperm were relatively low (45%). One clinical pregnancy was achi eved after intrauterine insemination. Conclusion(s): The quality of sperm from nocturnal emissions is variable, b ut it can be used in assisted reproduction procedures to avoid aggressive p rocedures such as electroejaculation or testis biopsy. (C) 1999 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.