To investigate the incidence, etiology, treatment indications, and outcomes regarding infertile male patients in Japan.
Between April, 2014 and March, 2015, the authors contacted 47 clinical specialists in male infertility who had been certified by the Japan Society for Reproductive Medicine. The participating clinicians were sent a questionnaire regarding information on their infertile patients, according to etiology and the number and success rates of male infertility operations that had been performed in their practice.
Thirty-nine specialists returned the questionnaire and provided information regarding 7268 patients. The etiology of infertility included testicular factors, sexual disorders, and seminal tract obstruction. During the study year, the clinicians performed varicocelectomies, testicular sperm extractions (TESEs), and re-anastomoses of the seminal tract. The rate of successful varicocelectomies was >70%. The sperm retrieval rates with conventional TESE and microdissection TESE were 98.3% and 34.0%, respectively, while the patency rates with vasovasostomy and epididymovasostomy were 81.8% and 61.0%, respectively.
Surgical outcomes for infertile male patients are favorable and can be of great clinical benefit for infertile couples. To achieve this, urologists should work in collaboration with gynecological specialists in order to optimize the treatment of both partners.
Reproductive medicine and biology. 2017 Oct 04*** epublish ***
Yasushi Yumura, Akira Tsujimura, Takashi Imamoto, Yukihiro Umemoto, Hideyuki Kobayashi, Koji Shiraishi, Takeshi Shin, Hisanori Taniguchi, Koji Chiba, Yasushi Miyagawa, Teruaki Iwamoto
Reproduction CenterYokohama City University Medical CenterYokohamaJapan., Department of UrologyJuntendo University Urayasu HospitalChibaJapan., Department of UrologyGraduate School of MedicineChiba UniversityChibaJapan., Department of Nephro-urologyNagoya City University Graduate School of Medical ScienceNagoyaJapan., Department of UrologyToho University School of MedicineTokyoJapan., Department of UrologyGraduate School of MedicineYamaguchi UniversityYamaguchiJapan., Department of UrologyDokkyo Medical University Koshigaya HospitalSaitamaJapan., Department of Urology and AndrologyKansai Medical UniversityOsakaJapan., Faculty of MedicineDivision of UrologyDepartment of Surgery RelatedKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan., Department of UrologyOsaka University Graduate School of MedicineOsakaJapan., Division of Male InfertilityCenter for Human ReproductionInternational University of Health and WelfareSanno HospitalTokyoJapan.