Unilateral Microscopic Testicular Sperm Extraction in Non-Obstructive Azoospermia

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to present the results ofunilateral microscopic testicular sperm extraction(mTESE) in non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA)cases in our clinic and to elucidate the factors affecting mTESE success.Materials and Methods: Our study was prospectively designed and 102 NOA patients wereincluded. Testis volumes, serum follicle stimulatinghormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and testosterone (T) levels were measuredand genetic evaluations was carried out. We performed mTESE and divided patients into two groupsaccording to sperm extraction results as mTESE issuccessful (sperm could be found) or failed (spermcould not be found). The two groups were compared in demographic, clinical and histopathologicaldata.Results: Sperm extraction by mTESE was successful in 64 (62.7%) patients. There was no significant difference between two groups in terms of age,infertility times, serum T and PRL levels (p=0.896,p=0.357, p=0.504, p=0.179, respectively). SerumFSH and LH levels were significantly lower, and themean testis volume was significantly higher in thegroup that micro-TESE was successful (p=0.004,p=0.001, p=0.029, respectively). Histopathologicalevaluation revealed a significant difference between hypospermatogenesis, sertoli cell only syndrome (SCOS) and maturation arrest (MA) groups interms of mTESE success (88.5%, 37.5%, 30%, respectively; p