Efficiency of Percutaneous Testicular Sperm Aspiration as a Mode of Sperm Collection for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection in Nonobstructive Azoospermia

ABSTRACTPurpose: We determined the feasibility of obtaining mature spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) by percutaneous testicular sperm aspiration in men with nonobstructive azoospermia. We also compared the results of ICSI using spermatozoa recovered by open excisional biopsy versus percutaneous testicular sperm aspiration.Materials and Methods: A total of 84 men with nonobstructive azoospermia underwent percutaneous testicular sperm aspiration to recover testicular spermatozoa for ICSI on the day of ova retrieval from the wife. Percutaneous testicular sperm aspiration was performed with the patient under general anesthesia in the upper and lower poles of each testis. It was followed by immediate microscopic search of the aspirate to confirm the presence of spermatozoa. In the absence of spermatozoa open excisional biopsy was performed in the same setting.Results: Percutaneous testicular sperm aspiration resulted in the recovery of mature spermatozoa in 45 men (53.6%). Of the remainin...