The effects of female age on the outcome of testicular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in infertile patients with azoospermia

Int Urol Nephrol. 2002;33(1):95-9. doi: 10.1023/a:1014425508427.

Abstract

Introduction: Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) is well-defined procedure for surgical sperm retrieval in obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia. This study was focused on the effectiveness of testicular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for azoospermic men with different female age subgroups.

Materials and methods: A total of 107 men with azoospermia underwent TESE and ICSI treatment. The women were examined in three groups 20-29, 30-34 and 35 years or older. The main outcome in this study was fertilization and pregnancy rates with TESE and ICSI.

Results: Spermatozoa were successfully retrieved during 97 of 107 (90.7%) TESE attempts, resulting in the fertilization of 286 of 563 (50.4%) injected metaphase II oocytes. Two hundred and fifty-five of them were transferred (89.8%). The clinical pregnancy rate and ongoing pregnancy rate per embryo transfer were 22.5% and 20.6% respectively. When comparing the fertilization and pregnancy rates, it was observed that women between the ages of 20-29 years had significantly higher pregnancy rates than women over 34 years of age (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The female age is a major factor in determining successful implantation in ICSI.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Embryo Transfer*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / therapy*
  • Male
  • Maternal Age*
  • Middle Aged
  • Oligospermia / diagnosis*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Rate*
  • Pregnancy Tests
  • Probability
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / methods*
  • Treatment Outcome