Identification of spermatozoa in archived testicular cancer specimens: implications for bench side sperm retrieval at orchiectomy.

Objectives: To evaluate the patterns of spermatogenesis in the normal testicular parenchyma of primary testicular cancers and estimate the feasibility of sperm retrieval at the time of radical orchiectomy.

Methods: We reviewed the archived histologic sections of 39 consecutive patients who had undergone radical orchiectomy for primary testicular cancer at 3 university-affiliated hospitals. We examined all areas of normal (noncancerous) testicular parenchyma to evaluate the level of spermatogenesis and presence of mature spermatozoa in these sections.

Microsurgical varicocelectomy for infertile men with oligospermia: differential effect of bilateral and unilateral varicocele on pregnancy outcomes.

Objectives: To evaluate the pregnancy outcomes of two groups of oligospermic men with varicocele, one having a varicocelectomy (group 1) and the other electing not to have surgery (group 2), as varicocele represents the most common factor associated with male infertility and most reports indicate that varicocelectomy has a beneficial effect on male fertility and pregnancy outcome.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive oligospermic men who had microsurgical varicocelectomy (233, group 1) between September 1996 and January 2002 and a consecutive group of oligospermic men with varicoceles who elected not to have surgery (127, group 2). The outcome measures included changes in semen variables, partner pregnancy rates (assisted and unassisted) and use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Varicocele: red flag or red herring?

The debate concerning the relationship between varicocele and male infertility has been ongoing for several decades, and correction of varicocele for the treatment of male infertility remains controversial. Proponents of varicocele repair believe that there is an association between the two conditions and point to the many studies showing improvements in semen parameters and other markers of fertility after surgery as evidence of such a relationship. Opponents argue that the mere presence of dilated testicular veins does not necessarily imply that these lesions are the cause of a man's subfertility and that incontrovertible pregnancy outcome data after varicocele repair remains to be shown.

Microsurgical varicocelectomy for isolated asthenospermia.

Purpose: Varicocele represents the most common cause of male infertility, and most reports indicate that varicocelectomy has a beneficial effect on male fertility and pregnancy outcome. We evaluated the clinical outcomes of infertile couples with varicocele and isolated asthenospermia who chose to undergo varicocelectomy as well as those who chose not to undergo the procedure.

Materials And Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 118 consecutive infertile couples in whom the man presented with clinical varicocele and isolated asthenospermia (less than 50% motile sperm).

Sperm DNA damage is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy loss after IVF and ICSI: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sperm DNA damage is common amongst infertile men and may adversely impact natural reproduction, IUI-assisted reproduction and to a lesser degree IVF pregnancy. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of sperm DNA damage on the risk of spontaneous pregnancy loss after IVF and ICSI.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on sperm DNA damage and pregnancy loss after an IVF and/or ICSI pregnancy.

Sperm head morphology is related to high deoxyribonucleic acid stainability assessed by sperm chromatin structure assay.

Objective: To examine the relationship between sperm strict morphology and sperm chromatin integrity.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Infertility clinic.