Birth after combination of cryopreservation of sperm recovered from urine and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in a case of complete retrograde ejaculation.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether sperm recovered from postejaculatory urine and cryopreserved can be used successfully for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

DESIGN

Case report.

SETTING

Laboratory of Developmental and Reproductive Biology, University Hospital.

PATIENT(S): A couple with male infertility resulting from complete retrograde ejaculation.

INTERVENTION(S): Freezing of sperm recovered from urine and subsequent use for ICSI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Survival, maintenance of fertilization, and pregnancy potential of sperm recovered from urine and cryopreserved.

RESULT(S): On thawing, the sperm were still alive (32% viability) and very slightly motile (2% sluggish motility). Of 16 oocytes injected, 10 (62.5%) produced normal, cleaving embryos. A twin pregnancy with the birth of two healthy infant girls was achieved after the transfer of three embryos.

CONCLUSION(S): The birth of normal, healthy female infants after ICSI with sperm recovered from postejaculatory urine and then cryopreserved demonstrates the usefulness of freezing such sperm even if motility is very low, to avoid surgery in the patient.