Semin Reprod Med 2002; 20(1): 025-036
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-23517
Copyright © 2002 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662

The Use of Cryopreserved Mature and Immature Testicular Spermatozoa for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection: Risks and Limitations

Wolfgang Küpker1 , Safaa Al-Hasani1 , Rainer Johannisson2 , Jörg Sandmann3 , Michael Ludwig1 , Dieter Jocham3 , Klaus Diedrich1
  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
  • 2Institute of Pathology, Medical University Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
  • 3Department of Urology, Medical University Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
02 April 2002 (online)

ABSTRACT

Treatment of severe male subfertility has become available since the intracytoplasmic injection of a single sperm into an oocyte was successfully applied for the first time in 1992. Moreover, with the use of fresh and cryopreserved epididymal and testicular spermatozoa for this procedure, fertilization and pregnancies could be accomplished. This review addresses the development and performance of these techniques and discusses achievements and problems as well as future aspects of the feasibility of early spermatid injection. Furthermore, limitations of these procedures and concerns with regard to genetic and epigenetic risks of using immature gametes are stressed.

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