Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 19, 2026
Vessel-Sparing Microsurgical Longitudinal Intussusception Vasoepididymostomy to Treat Epididymal Obstructive Azoospermia
Published on: May 27, 2022
Successful delivery derived from vitrified-warmed spermatozoa from a patient with nonobstructive azoospermia
Yuji Endo1, Yoshitaka Fujii, Shozo Kurotsuchi
1IVF Center, Kurashiki Medical Clinic, Kurashiki, Japan. ivf@fkmc.or.jp
Objective:
To report the clinical outcomes following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with vitrified sperm from patients with severe male factor infertility.
Design:
Retrospective case series.
Setting:
IVF unit of a medical center.
Patient(S):
Three patients with severe oligozoospermia or nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA).
Intervention(S):
Cryopreservation of limited numbers of spermatozoa with the use of Cryotop and Cell Sleeper as nonbiologic containers.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Four cycles underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with vitrified sperm.
Result(S):
A total of 148 spermatozoa in 18 containers (8.2 sperm per container) were vitrified and 36 of them (5 containers) were warmed. Thirty-three sperm (92%) were retrieved successfully and injected individually into 17 mature oocytes. Fertilization was observed in 12 oocytes (71%), and all zygotes (100%) cleaved. A couple with NOA achieved a singleton pregnancy and concluded with full-term delivery of a healthy boy (2,632 g).
Conclusion(S):
A successful delivery was achieved after transfer of a blastocyst derived from vitrified-warmed spermatozoa. A small number of vitrified sperm cells were used for ICSI to fertilize oocytes with predictable timing.
Related Concept Videos
01:24In Vitro Fertilization
The IVF process begins with ovarian stimulation, during which reproductive endocrinologists prescribe hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of the single...
01:38Fertilization
01:41Spermatogenesis
01:23Infertility in Males