Ethnic Origin as a Parameter in the Prediction of Successful Testicular Sperm Extraction in Patients with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia
Author(s): Atif Zeadna, Iris Har-Vardi, Naheel Khateeb, Naama Steiner, Arie Berkovitz, Yotam Lior, Etan Levitas, Eitan Lunenfeld, Eliahu Levitas
Background: The need for a reliable prediction model of testicular sperm extraction outcomes in non-obstructive azoospermia patients is inarguably of paramount importance. The aim of the present study was to determine whether a combination of available parameters would improve the prediction of successful sperm retrieval.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study with a population of 119 patients who underwent Testicular Sperm Extraction - was conducted. We used univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression to identify the most reliable factors associated with the success of the surgical procedure.
Results: Age and ethnicity were the only parameters that differed significantly between the patients who experienced successful testicular sperm extraction and those who did not. A comparison between patients of Jewish and Bedouin origin demonstrated that despite the fact that the Jewish population was significantly older, the sperm retrieval rate was much higher than it was in the Bedouin population-77.19% versus 54.88%.
Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to emphasize ethnic origin as an important parameter in the prediction of successful sperm retrieval in non-obstructive azoospermia patients.