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Successful pregnancy with intrauterine insemination using vasal sperm retrieved by electric stimulation
Kazuo Saito1, Yuzo Kinoshita, Kotaro Suzuki
1Department of Urology, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan. zxb07166@nifty.ne.jp
Objective:
To determine the feasibility of electric stimulation applied to the epididymis or vas deferens to retrieve vasal sperm.
Design:
Two case reports.
Setting:
Assisted reproduction practice in a hospital.
Patient(S):
Two patients with retrograde ejaculation and severe asthenozoospermia.
Intervention(S):
Pulse electric simulation was applied to the epididymis or vas deferens to retrieve sperm via a tube cannulated into the vas deferens. After diluting with culture medium, retrieved sperm were used for IUI.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
The volume of retrieved vasal fluid and motility parameters of the sperm, the achievement of pregnancy, and outcome of pregnancy.
Result(S):
In patient 1, the volumes of vasal fluids and numbers of sperm were 10-40 microL and 31.4-75.9 x 10(6), respectively, during two cycles. Sperm motility was 88.4%--93.2%. His wife became pregnant and was delivered of a healthy infant by IUI during the second cycle. In patient 2, 0.6 x 10(6) sperm with a motility of 70% were retrieved and used for IUI. However, his wife did not become pregnant.
Conclusion(S):
Electric vasal sperm retrieval is a feasible method for collecting sperm from the vas deferens in selected patients with male factor infertility.