To evaluate the use of a diagnostic testis biopsy and a repetition of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) surgeries in azoospermic patients and its impact on the outcome of TESE.
Design
Retrospective, case–control study.
Setting
University IVF center and hospital.
Patient(s)
A total of 552 azoospermic patients undergoing TESE for intracytoplasmic injection.
Intervention(s)
At the time of the TESE, a piece of testicular tissue was prepared for histopathologic evaluation.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
Sperm retrieval rate.
Result(s)
Testicular sperm retrieval was successful in 100% of patients with obstructive azoospermia, 95.6% of patients with hypospermatogenesis, 47.9% of patients with maturation arrest, and 28.6% of patients with Sertoli cell–only syndrome in cases with no previous testicular surgery; in 100%, 91.4%, 32%, and 13.3%, respectively, in cases with a history of one testicular surgery; and in 100%, 10%, 0, and 0, respectively, in cases with a history of two testicular surgeries.
Conclusion(s)
Testicular sperm retrieval may be successful for some patients in each histopathologic category of azoospermia, with variable degrees of success for different histopathologic categories. The repetition of testicular surgeries decreases the chance of finding sperm in subsequent testicular sperm retrieval procedures.
