The outcome of sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in patients with obstructive azoospermia: Impact of previous tuberculous epididymitis

Purpose: Our purpose was to investigate the influence of previous tuberculo us epididymitis in patients with obstructive azoospermia on the outcome of sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Methods: Eighty-eight cycles of lCSI were performed in 44 patients with obs tructive azoospermia; 16 cycles (7 patients) with tuberculous obstructive a zoospermia and 72 cycles (37 patients) with nontuberculous obstructive azoo spermia. Results: The rates of fertilization and embryo cleavage were comparable, an d there was no significant difference in the clinical pregnancy rate per fr esh transfer between the two groups. The rates of embryo implantation and c linical miscarriage were also comparable. Conclusions: Embryo quality and pregnancy outcome in sperm retrieval and IC SI were comparable in both the tuberculous and the nontuberculous obstructi ve azoospermia patients. Although there was a preponderance of testicular s perm used in the tuberculous obstructive azoospermia group, our results sug gest that previous tuberculous epididymitis in patients with obstructive az oospermia does not affect the outcome of sperm retrieval and ICSI.