A simplified method of epididymal sperm aspiration

• Published in: Urology (Ridgewood, N.J.) Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 123 - 125
• Main Authors: Matthews, Gerald J., Goldstein, Marc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 1996; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Epididymis - cytology; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Pregnancy - statistics & numerical data; Specimen Handling - instrumentation; Specimen Handling - methods; Spermatozoa; Sterility. Assisted procreation; Performance evaluation; Human; Epididymis; Aspiration; Cryopreservation; Intracytoplasmic sperm injection; Semen; Male; Male sterility; Puncture; Technique; Male genital diseases
• ISSN: 0090-4295; 1527-9995
• DOI: 10.1016/S0090-4295(99)80397-5

We present a simple technique of epididymal sperm aspiration that uses inexpensive and readily available materials. Men undergoing epididymal reconstruction with vasoepididymostomy or autogenous sperm reservoir had sperm aspiration for cryopreservation. Mean total and total motile sperm per aspirate recovered from 25 men have been 25.1 ± 4.8 × 10
6 and 4.0 ± 1.4 × 10
6, respectively. Two ongoing pregnancies have been achieved with intracytoplasmic sperm injection using thawed epididymal sperm. Sperm aspiration and cryopreservation maximize a couple's fertility potential with a single procedure and provide a viable fertility alternative to a second surgical procedure in the event of a primary reconstructive failure.