Successful pregnancy with intrauterine insemination using vasal sperm retrieved by electric stimulation.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the feasibility of electric stimulation applied to the epididymis or vas deferens to retrieve vasal sperm.

DESIGN

Two case reports.

SETTING

Assisted reproduction practice in a hospital.

PATIENT(S): Two patients with retrograde ejaculation and severe asthenozoospermia.

INTERVENTION(S): Pulse electric simulation was applied to the epididymis or vas deferens to retrieve sperm via a tube cannulated into the vas deferens. After diluting with culture medium, retrieved sperm were used for IUI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The volume of retrieved vasal fluid and motility parameters of the sperm, the achievement of pregnancy, and outcome of pregnancy.

RESULT(S): In patient 1, the volumes of vasal fluids and numbers of sperm were 10-40 microL and 31.4-75.9 x 10(6), respectively, during two cycles. Sperm motility was 88.4%--93.2%. His wife became pregnant and was delivered of a healthy infant by IUI during the second cycle. In patient 2, 0.6 x 10(6) sperm with a motility of 70% were retrieved and used for IUI. However, his wife did not become pregnant.

CONCLUSION(S): Electric vasal sperm retrieval is a feasible method for collecting sperm from the vas deferens in selected patients with male factor infertility.