Use of assisted reproductive techniques for treatment of ejaculatory disorders

Abstract

Ejaculatory disorders can interfere with the fertility of young adults who suffer from spinal cord injury, have type I diabetes mellitus or have undergone retroperitoneal or intrapelvic operations. Following an overview of causes and treatment of ejaculatory disorders, the data of our centre are presented. From a group of 37 patients with genuine loss of seminal emission, 15 men and their wives were offered a combined treatment of rectal probe electro-ejaculation and artificial reproductive techniques. No serious complications occurred. During 40 cycles with intracorporeal insemination and 11 cycles with extracorporeal fertilization techniques, seven pregnancies were achieved, representing a pregnancy rate of 46% per couple and 14% per cycle for all cycles. Five healthy children were born, all following extracorporeal insemination. The 'take-home baby rate' for this population and for this technique is 45%. In vitro fertilization (IVF) led to one birth, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) achieved four live births out of three pregnancies, one being a twin gestation. Since our successes are due to the use of extracorporeal insemination techniques, these are now incorporated in a new, more rational treatment protocol.