Emission Failure Research Articles

Testicular sperm extraction and intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome in cancer survivors with no available cryopreserved sperm.

To assess rates of successful testicular sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome in cancer survivors affected by non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) or retrograde ejaculation (RE)/failure of emission (FOE). A retrospective analysis of cancer survivors who did not cryopreserve sperm prior to treatment undergoing testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Non-cancer NOA patients and neurologic RE/FOE were the control group. A total of 97 cancer survivors were offered TESE and 88 (91%) accepted. Sperm was retrieved and cryopreserved in 34/67 patients with NOA (50.7%) and in 21/21 patients affected by RE/FOE (100%). Sperm retrieval rates were similar in the control group (44.9% in NOA and 100% in RE/FOE). The ICSI cumulative pregnancy rate (60%) and live birth rate (40%) per couple in 30 NOA men did not differ from controls (50.0 and 46.5%, respectively; p = 0.399/0.670). The cumulative pregnancy rate (66.7%) and live birth rate (55.6%) in 18 RE/FOE men did not differ from the control group (38.9 and 33.3%, respectively; p = 0.181/0.315). The cancer type and the resulting infertility disorder (NOA or RE/FOE) were not associated with ICSI outcomes. Female partner age was inversely related to the cumulative live birth rate, being fourfold lower (11.5%) in women ≥ 40years and 48.8% in younger women (p = 0.0037). The rate of successful TESE and the ICSI outcome in cancer survivors with NOA and RE/FOE is the same as non-cancer azoospermic patients. Female partner age (older than 40years) was associated with a significant reduction in live birth rates after TESE-ICSI procedures.

Outcomes of the management of post‐chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection‐associated anejaculation

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Modern surgical techniques have allowed preservation of fertility in most patients after post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC-RPLND), but some patients still have infertility after surgery. We reviewed our experience treating infertility in 26 men after PC-RPLND. Using a structured clinical pathway we obtained sperm in 81% of men for use in assisted reproduction. To evaluate the effectiveness of a clinical pathway on sperm retrieval outcomes in patients presenting with infertility after post-chemotherapy (PC) retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). We carried out a retrospective review of patients with advanced testicular cancer, presenting with infertility after PC-RPLND in a large reproductive urology practice. We implemented a clinical pathway where pseudoephedrine was first administered. If this medication failed, electroejaculation (EEJ) and/or testicular sperm extraction (TESE) was carried out. The primary outcome was retrieval of sperm for use in assisted reproduction. Four men had retrograde ejaculation, of whom two converted to antegrade ejaculation with medical therapy. In all, 22 patients had failure of emission (FOE) and, of these, no patient converted to antegrade ejaculation with medication. In patients with FOE, sperm was found in 15/20 of those experiencing a successful EEJ. Seven patients underwent TESE for azoospermia on EEJ or no ejaculate on EEJ, three of whom had sperm found on TESE. Sperm was found for assisted reproduction in 81% (21/26) patients. There appears to be no role for the use of pseudoephedrine therapy in patients with FOE after PC-RPLND. The use of a structured clinical pathway may optimize patient care.