Retrospective analysis of ICSI outcomes using cryopreserved-thawed immotile sperm obtained via testicular sperm extraction

LUO Lu-lu; ZHANG Xin-zong; WEI Feng-xiang

doi:10.13820/j.cnki.gdyx.20252444

Abstract：Objective To analyze the impact of using cryopreserved-thawed immotile sperm obtained via testic-ular sperm extraction on ICSI embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes,providing evidence for the clinical application of sperm cryopreservation from testicular sources in human sperm banks and reproductive centers.Methods A retrospec-tive analysis was conducted on clinical application data from 100 cases of cryopreserved testicular sperm stored at the Guangdong Human Sperm Bank between July 2017 and December 2024.Patients were divided into three groups based on sperm motility before freezing and after thawing:Group A(motile before and after freezing,n=64),Group B(motile be-fore freezing but immotile after thawing,n=9),and Group C(immotile before and after freezing,n=27).Embryo de-velopment and pregnancy outcomes were compared among groups.Results The cleavage rate[100.00(87.50,100.00)％,100.00(88.89,100.00)％,100.00(100.00,100.00)％],high-quality embryo rate[28.57(60.71,55.77)％,0.00(0.00,12.50)％,16.67(0.00,25.00)％],clinical pregnancy rate(44.83％,50.00％,16.67％),and live birth rate(34.48％,50.00％,16.67％)showed no significant differences among Groups A,B,and C(P＞0.05).However,the fertilization rate in Group C[50.00(37.50,81.67)％]was significantly lower than in Group A[88.89(70.00,100.00)％]and Group B[100.00(88.89,100.00)％](P＜0.05).Conclusion Immotile testicular sperm retain fertilization potential after cryopreservation and thawing,and can achieve comparable pregnancy out-comes to motile sperm when used for ICSI.Cryopreservation of testicular sperm represents an effective fertility preservation strategy for patients with non-obstructive azoospermia.