Intracytoplasmic Testicular Sperm Injection: An Effective Treatment for Otherwise Intractable Obstructive Azoospermia

PURPOSE: We evaluated the efficacy of intracytoplasmic sperm injection with testicular spermatozoa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was performed with spermatozoa obtained from testicular biopsy specimens in 15 patients with obstructive azoospermia, in whom standard microsurgical procedures were not feasible or had previously failed. RESULTS: Fertilization was achieved in 14 of 15 cycles. Mean fertilization rate per cycle was 63.6%. Four clinical pregnancies occurred, for a pregnancy rate of 26.7% per started cycle and 28.6% per transfer. CONCLUSIONS: Intracytoplasmic testicular sperm injection is followed by high fertilization rates, and offers the chance of a pregnancy to otherwise intractably infertile couples with obstructive azoospermia.