Successful delivery derived from vitrified-warmed spermatozoa from a patient with nonobstructive azoospermia

Abstract

To report the clinical outcomes following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with vitrified sperm from patients with severe male factor infertility. Retrospective case series. IVF unit of a medical center. Three patients with severe oligozoospermia or nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Cryopreservation of limited numbers of spermatozoa with the use of Cryotop and Cell Sleeper as nonbiologic containers. Four cycles underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with vitrified sperm. A total of 148 spermatozoa in 18 containers (8.2 sperm per container) were vitrified and 36 of them (5 containers) were warmed. Thirty-three sperm (92%) were retrieved successfully and injected individually into 17 mature oocytes. Fertilization was observed in 12 oocytes (71%), and all zygotes (100%) cleaved. A couple with NOA achieved a singleton pregnancy and concluded with full-term delivery of a healthy boy (2,632 g). A successful delivery was achieved after transfer of a blastocyst derived from vitrified-warmed spermatozoa. A small number of vitrified sperm cells were used for ICSI to fertilize oocytes with predictable timing.