Clinical experience and successful impregnation using an artificial spermatocele.

We have to date installed artificial spermatoceles made of silicone in a total of 33 patients. Artificial insemination of husband (AIH) was performed in 1-9 times using semen collected from 11 of the 33 patients in whom spermatocele was installed, and pregnancy was achieved in 2 cases. Reported cases of pregnancy achieved using semen collected from artificial spermatoceles are few in number; indeed, our successful cases were the fifth and sixth reported so far. The key point for success in achieving pregnancy by means of the artificial spermatocele is considered to be attempting AIH as soon as possible after collecting the sperm, because collection of sperm soon becomes impossible, due to early obstruction of the incised region at the epididymis by degeneration of fibrous tissue. 3% HSA-TMPA medium was found to be useful for sperm collection.