Objective: To assess whether seminal vesicle sperm aspiration (SVSA) is an option for wounded warriors with severe genital and testicular injuries, with the goal of cryopreservation to use in future assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles.
Design: Retrospective case series.
Setting: Tertiary care military hospital.
Patient(s): Six wounded warriors.
Intervention(s): None.
Main outcome measure(s): Seminal vesicle fluid analysis after harvest, after thaw analysis, fertilization rates, pregnancy rates (PRs), live birth.
Result(s): Six patients with lower extremity, pelvic, and genital injuries from dismounted improvised explosive devices underwent SVSA within 5-12 days of the initial injury. Sperm retrieved were analyzed (volume, 0.4-1.8 mL; concentration, 40-2,200 K; motility, 0-5%), washed, and cryopreserved. Two patients underwent IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles using their samples. In one couple, fertilization rate was 38%. One grade V embryo was transferred with a negative pregnancy test. The second couple underwent two cycles. In their first cycle, fertilization rate was 44%, with one blastocyst transferred and a negative pregnancy test. In the second cycle, fertilization rate was 47%. Two blastocysts were cryopreserved due to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) concerns. One blastocyst was later transferred in a frozen cycle resulting in a live birth.
Conclusion(s): The SVSA is a reasonable option to retrieve sperm in wounded warriors or trauma patients with extensive genital injuries.
Keywords: Seminal vesicle sperm aspiration; genital injuries; pregnancy; trauma.
Published by Elsevier Inc.