Analysis of medical treatment of male infertility

Abstract

Since the first injection of a single spermatozoon into the cytoplasm of an oocyte (intracytoplasmic sperm injection, ICSI), this method has become the most successful means of treating male infertility. Even for patients long considered untreatable, a chance of paternity has become reality. Using not only ejaculated but also testicular spermatozoa, pregnancies have been achieved in the partners of patients who had never had a chance previously, including even cases with Klinefelter syndrome. However, despite the tremendous success of ICSI, most couples would prefer to conceive offspring naturally. Therefore we review the effectiveness of current conventional treatments for male infertility and analyse the chances of infertile couples to conceive spontaneously.