A comparison of the morphology of testicular, epididymal, and ejaculated sperm from fertile men and men with obstructive azoospermia

Objective: To assess the morphology of testicular, epididymal, and ejaculat ed sperm. Design: Morphology of the three types of sperm was assessed by using Tygerb erg strict criteria. Setting: The Regional Fertility Center, Royal Maternity Hospital, Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Patient(s): Thirty-two men with obstructive azoospermia and 10 fertile men. Intervention(s): Trucut needle testicular biopsy and percutaneous epididyma l sperm aspiration under local anesthetic. Main Outcome Measure(s): Percentages of normal sperm and sperm with head, m idpiece, and tail defects for testicular, epididymal, and ejaculated sperm. Testicular sperm morphology in men with obstructive azoospermia was compar ed with that of fertile men. Result(s): The percentage of normal testicular sperm (4.3%) differed signif icantly from the percentages of normal epididymal (10.8%) and ejaculated sp erm (9.6%). Testicular sperm morphology in men with obstructive azoospermia did not differ from that in fertile men. Conclusion(s): Tygerberg strict criteria are not suitable for the assessmen t of testicular sperm morphology. (C) 2000 by American Society for Reproduc tive Medicine.