Efficacy of cryopreservation of embryos generated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection with spermatozoa from frozen testicular tissue

• Published in: Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics 2014-10, Vol.31 (10), p.1331-1336
• Main Authors: Park, Yong-Seog, Kim, Myo Kyung, Lim, Chun Kyu, Lee, Sun-Hee, Park, Dong-Wook, Seo, Ju Tae, Yang, Kwang Moon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Assisted Reproduction Technologies; Biopsy; Cryopreservation; Cryopreservation - methods; Embryo Implantation - physiology; Embryo Transfer - methods; Embryos; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - methods; Freezing; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Oocyte Retrieval - methods; Oocytes - physiology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Outcome; Reproductive health; Reproductive Medicine; Reproductive technologies; Semen Preservation - methods; Sperm; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic - methods; Spermatozoa - physiology; Testis - physiology
• ISSN: 1058-0468; 1573-7330
• DOI: 10.1007/s10815-014-0304-2

Purpose To evaluate the viability of frozen embryos generated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with frozen testicular spermatozoa. Methods A total of 68 fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycles and 85 subsequent frozen-thawed ET (FET) cycles were grouped according to the source of spermatozoa: fresh testicular spermatozoa (TESE) or frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa (t-TESE). Results There were no significant differences in the age of female patients, number of oocytes, or fertilization rates in fresh ET cycles with TESE (TESE-fresh ET) versus t-TESE (t-TESE-fresh ET). The rate of embryo survival after thawing (95.7 % vs. 94.0 %) was similar in frozen ET cycles (FET) with TESE (TESE-FET) and with t-TESE (t-TESE-FET). While there were significant differences in the proportion of good quality embryos, no statistical differences were found in the pregnancy or clinical abortion rates between the two groups. Moreover, delivery rates were not significantly different. Conclusions Although the proportion of good quality embryos was affected by cryopreservation of testicular tissue, embryo survival rate was not. As well, subsequent pregnancy could be achieved successfully via t-TESE-FET cycles. Therefore, FET is not affected by the cryopreservation of testicular tissue, and avoids further oocyte retrieval and TESE procedures.