Fertilization and early embryology: Ongoing pregnancies and birth after intracytoplasmic sperm injection with frozen—thawed epididymal spermatozoa

Abstract

In seven patients who did not become pregnant following microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a subsequent ICSI was performed using previously cryopreserved supernumerary epididymal spermatozoa without re-operating on the husband. During the original MESA procedure a mean sperm concentration of 12.3×10⁶/ml was achieved. The supernumerary spermatozoa were cryopreserved for later use. After thawing frozen epididymal spermatozoa a mean concentration of 1.9×10⁶ spermatozoa/ml was obtained in straws containing a total volume of sperm suspension of 250 μl. From 68 intact oocytes injected with frozen—thawed epididymal spermatozoa, a two pronuclear fertilization rate of 45% and a cleavage rate of 82% were obtained. A total of 17 embryos were replaced in the seven patients, resulting in two ongoing singleton pregnancies and one twin delivery. Six embryos were cryopreserved. In conclusion, it would appear mandatory to cryopreserve supernumerary spermatozoa during a MESA in order to avoid subsequent further scrotal surgery.