The effect of human chorionic gonadotropin treatment before testicular sperm extraction in non-obstructive azoospermia

Abstract

Aim To investigate our experience on empirical hCG treatment of patients with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA).Methods hCG group consisted of 34 patients who were empirically treated with hCG despite normal serum FSH and LH levels and normal testicular volumes. hCG was administered as 2500 IU twice weekly subcutaneous injections for 10 to 14 weeks prior to testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Control group consisted of 49 age and spouse age matched patients who underwent TESE in
the same time period. Sperm retrieval rate (SRR), and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), lutenizing hormone (LH) and testosterone levels, volume of testicles, fertilization rate (FR), implantation rate (IR), pregnancy rate (PR), live birth rate (LBR) and cancel rate (CR) and surgical technique were compared between the two groups.Results Conventional technique was used in 14 of the 17 patients (82.3%) with successful sperm retrieval in the hCG group, and 18 of the 28 patients (64.3%) in the control group (p=0.170). There were no differences between groups in terms of SRR (p=0.338). There were no significant differences in patient age, mean infertility period, mean values of FSH, LH, testosterone, estradiol levels, and testis volume between the two groups (p>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences for FR, IR, PR, LBR between the two groups (p>0.05).Conclusion Empirical hCG treatment in patients with idiopathic NOA did not result in improved SRR. hCG treatment did not have any effect on the success of ICSI.

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