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Comparative Study
. 2024 Oct;41(10):2681-2690.
doi: 10.1007/s10815-024-03265-9. Epub 2024 Sep 27.

Comparison of obstetrical and neonatal outcomes between fresh versus frozen-thawed testicular sperm derived from microTESE

Sima Simcha Nagawkar Perlov #  1   2 , Noy Deri #  3 , Talia Eldar-Geva  4   5 , Michael Gal  4 , Orna Reichman  6 , Yuval Or  7 , Ido Ben-Ami  4
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Comparison of obstetrical and neonatal outcomes between fresh versus frozen-thawed testicular sperm derived from microTESE

Sima Simcha Nagawkar Perlov et al. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2024 Oct.

Erratum in

Abstract

Purpose: To compare obstetrical and neonatal outcomes of embryo transfer cycles using fresh vs. frozen-thawed testicular sperm derived from microTESE in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients.

Design: The retrospective cohort study included a total of 48 couples diagnosed with NOA who underwent 93 ET cycles, both fresh and frozen-thawed embryos, and resulted in pregnancy. ET cycles were divided into two groups according to sperm type, fresh (46 cycles, 49.5%) or frozen (47 cycles, 50.5%) testicular sperm. The primary outcome was the birth weight of newborns correlated with gestational week (birth weight percentile).

Results: A comparison of patients' basic characteristics and ET cycle parameters showed no significant clinical differences between the groups. A total of 172 embryos were transferred, 86 (50%) in each group. A higher rate of good-quality blastocysts was found in the fresh testicular group (83.3% vs. 50%, p = 0.046). A comparison of pregnancy outcomes showed no significant differences in clinical pregnancy, implantation, or live birth rates. A total of 53 cycles resulted in live birth, 26 (49%) and 27 (51%) in the fresh and frozen groups, respectively. No difference was found in pregnancy length, delivery mode, or obstetrical complications. A total of 61 newborns were included, 31 (51%) and 30 (49%) in fresh and frozen testicular groups, respectively. No significant differences were found in mean birth weight or birth weight percentile between the groups.

Conclusion: No significant differences were found in obstetrical outcomes when comparing ET cycles using fresh or frozen-thawed testicular sperm retrieved from microTESE. Moreover, there is no association between the sperm source and the birth weight of newborns.

Keywords: Fresh testicular sperm; Frozen-thawed testicular sperm; Microtesticular sperm extraction (microTESE/mTESE); Neonatal outcomes; Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA); Obstetrical outcomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

We confirm that all authors have met the conditions of authorship, have approved the manuscript, and agree with its submission to the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. Moreover, none of the co-authors has any conflict of interest.

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