Comparison of three sperm retrieval techniques in spinal cord-injured men: Pregnancy outcome

Abstract

Aim. To compare pregnancy outcomes between three sperm retrieval techniques – electroejaculation, testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and prostatic massage – in spinal cord-injured men.Method. Forty-four patients who became paraplegic due to spinal cord injuries by land mines and bullets, and who underwent infertility treatment during 1998–2005, were included. Eight men were treated with rectal probe electroejaculation, 26 with TESE and ten with prostatic massage. The pregnancy rate and live birth rate resulting from the embryo transfers of all cycles were calculated.Results. Eight singleton pregnancies were achieved, two in the electroejaculation group, four in the TESE group and two in the prostatic massage group. Live birth rate was not significantly different between the three groups.Conclusion. Our results show that the different sperm retrieval techniques used to obtain semen in spinal cord-injured men resulted in similar pregnancy outcomes.