Fertilization and embryo cleavage after intracytoplasmic spermatid injection in an obstructive azoospermic patient with defective spermiogenesis

Objective: To achieve fertilization and cleavage by spermatids without tails from testicular biopsy. Design: Clinical trial. Setting: Reproductive unit of a university teaching hospital. Patient: A patient of obstructive azoospermia with defective spermiogenesis. Intervention: Testicular biopsy after scrotal exploration and spermatid injection into the cytoplasm of oocyte. Main Outcome Measures: Fertilization and cleavage. Results: Four of 13 spermatid injections achieved normal fertilization and 2 of them cleaved. Conclusion: Intracytoplasmic spermatid injection may be a possible treatment for patients of defective spermiogenesis who have no viable spermatozoa available.