ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of surgical retrieval of testicular spermatozoa,and to present the preliminary results of the retrieved testicular spermatozoa used in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for treatment of non obstructive azoospermic infertility. Methods Forty nine cases of non obstructive azoospermia underwent open testicular biopsy and diagnostic testicular sperm extraction (TESE).Those who had sperms in diagnostic TESE underwent ICSI at least 3 months later. Results Sperms were detected in diagnostic TESE in 12 cases (24.9%). The testicular volume,FSH level and testicular pathology did not accurately predict the presence or absence of sperm in testes.Seven (87.5%) of 8 cases had sperm in re TESE, which were used in their ICSI cycles,resulting in 3 clinical pregnancies. Conclusions The diagnostic TESE should be performed to determine the presence or absence of testicular spermatozoa in testicular failure before ICSI,and the surgically retrieved testicular spermatozoa can be adopted in ICSI for treatment of non obstructive azoospermic infertility.