OBJECTIVE: Histological testicular pattern has a predictive role in the possibility of finding spermatozoa for ICSI in cases of non-obstructive azoospermia because some individuals could show residual spermatogenic sites in the testis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sperm retrieval rate in each of the histopathological groups (hypospermatogenesis-Hypo, spermatogenic maturation arrest-MA, Sertoli cell only-SCO and testicular hyalinization) in patients assisted in our clinic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective study from March 1997 to October 2002. We analyzed 14 patients with mean age of 34.3 ± 0.7, with non-obstructive azoospermia. All patients were submitted to previous diagnostic biopsy (Bx) elsewhere and came to our institution for treatment. After an average of 12 months (8 - 20), they were submitted to a new Bx procedure to retrieve sperm. RESULTS: Previous diagnostic Bx showed the following histopathological results: 5 patients with MA, 4 with Hypo and 5 SCO. In the following Bx (for sperm retrieval) spermatozoa was found in 33% of the procedures in patients with MA, 50% in patients with Hypo and 40% of the procedures in patients with SCO. CONCLUSION: Previous diagnostic Bx can help in patient counseling concerning the result of sperm retrieval.

OBJECTIVES: Assessing the efficiency of repeated percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA) in men with obstructive azoospermia, and also the possibility of cryopreservation of remaining material for future use in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). METHOD: Retrospective study, in which 79 procedures of PESA were assessed in 58 patients (mean age = 45 years), whose partners had mean age of 34 years. Vasectomy was the most frequent cause of obstructive azoospermia (n = 46). RESULTS: Motile spermatozoa were obtained in 65 procedures (82%). PESA was twice repeated for 15 patients, 3 times for 5 patients, and 4 times for 1 patient. Spermatozoa were found in 13 (87%) patients in the second attempt, in 4 (80%) patients in the third attempt, and in the only patient that had accomplished 4 procedures. In 30 procedures (37%), we have obtained enough material for cryopreservation. In 12 among the 13 samples thawed (n = 13 patients), motile spermatozoa were found, and ICSI was accomplished. Four patients that did not use their samples requested the elimination of the material. Total rate of pregnancy per transference was 21/55 (38%). In 14 PESA procedures, it was not possible to find spermatozoa; in these cases, the patients opted for accomplishing the procedure of testicular sperm aspiration (TESA). CONCLUSION: PESA is an efficient and simple method of retrieving spermatozoa, allowing repeated procedures. Additionally, spermatozoa collected through PESA can be cryopreserved.