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

Abstract

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 canulated 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 μL and 31.4–75.9 × 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 × 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.