Assisted fertility using electroejaculation in men with spinal cord injury--a review of literature

Abstract

Objective: To review the effectiveness of rectal probe electroejaculation in terms of pregnancy in treatment of anejaculatory males due to spinal cord injury. The characteristics of electroejaculates also are examined.

Data identification: All English language studies reporting pregnancies as a result of electroejaculation from men with spinal cord injury and related publications on electroejaculation were identified through MEDLINE search and manual scanning of recent relevant journals.

Results: Electroejaculation has become an accepted mode of semen procurement in anejaculatory individuals, with a success rate of approximately 60% to 90% varying among different centers. In general these electroejaculates exhibit high sperm counts but low motility and poor sperm function. Retrograde ejaculation is also common. Pregnancies using electroejaculates have been documented since 1975 in the form of case reports and small series. Assisted reproductive technology recently has been used in conjunction with electroejaculation. Although results are encouraging, pregnancy rates, however, cannot be accurately estimated because of the lack of large series in the literature.

Conclusions: An increasing number of spinal cord-injured patients desiring fertility can achieve pregnancy through combined use of electroejaculation and assisted reproductive techniques. Larger series are needed to establish an accurate pregnancy rate. Elucidation by further studies on etiology of sperm dysfunction of these individuals may improve their prognosis.