Background: The effects of source of sperm, aetiology and sperm cryopreservation on ICSI cycles in azoospermic men were evaluated. The effect of aetiology of azoospermia on embryo development was also assessed.
Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of 154 cycles (91 couples) using surgically retrieved sperm. Outcome measures were fertilization rate (FR), implantation rate (IR), and clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and livebirth rate (LBR) per transfer.
Results: Our data demonstrated similar outcome between the use of epididymal or testicular sperm in men with obstructive azoospermic (OA). FR and IR were significantly lower (P < 0.05) using sperm from men with non-obstructive azoospermic (NOA), but although pregnancy outcome appeared lower, this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.08). Cryopreservation of epididiymal sperm did not alter outcome, but the use of frozen-thawed testicular sperm did demonstrate a lower FR, with no statistical difference in IR or pregnancy outcome. Embryos derived from NOA sperm had impaired development beyond day 2 post-oocyte retrieval (OA, 44% <5 cell; NOA, 71% <5 cell; P = 0.002).
Conclusions: The use of sperm from men with NOA significantly affects fertilization and implantation in ICSI cycles. The use of frozen-thawed testicular sperm affects fertilization rate without significantly altering pregnancy outcome. The use of such data on which to base clinical decisions needs to be supported by the meta-analyses of previous reports.