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

Park, Yong-Seog; Kim, Myo; Lim, Chun; Lee, Sun-Hee; Park, Dong-Wook; Seo, Ju; Yang, Kwang

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.

CRYOPRESERVATION of organs, tissues, etc.; INTRACYTOPLASMIC sperm injection; FROZEN semen; TESTIS; CELL cycle

Journal of Assisted Reproduction & Genetics, 2014, Vol 31, Issue 10, p1331

1058-0468

Academic Journal

10.1007/s10815-014-0304-2