Can micro-testicular sperm extraction help with pregnancy in Klinefelters Syndrome?

This paper studied the performance of microsurgical testicular sperm extraction in patients with Klinefelter syndrome. 

Klinefelter syndrome is caused by an abnormal number of chromosomes. This causes nonobstructive azoospermia (lack of sperm in semen). Klinefelter Syndrome is associated with infertility and normal or reduced testosterone (male sex hormone) levels. Studies have reported successful pregnancy using microsurgical testicular sperm extraction followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Microsurgical testicular sperm extraction is a technique that retrieves sperm from testes. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection involves injection of sperm into the egg. The fertilized embryo is then transferred into the uterus. 

Patients with azoospermia, with and without Klinefelter Syndrome were studied. Microsurgical testicular sperm extraction was performed and sperms were retrieved. If successful, this was followed by intracytoplasmic sperm injection and embryo transfer.  

Among patients with Klinefelter Syndrome, patients with successful sperm retrieval had higher testosterone levels than those with failed sperm retrieval. Among patients with Klinefelter Syndrome, those with successful sperm retrieval had a lower average age than those with failed sperm retrieval. The sperm retrieval rate was 28.4% among patients with Klinefelter Syndrome and 22.2% among patients without Klinefelter Syndrome. 

There were 38 successful micro testicular sperm extraction procedures among Klinefelter patients. Embryo transfer was undertaken in 18 couples. In patients without Klinefelter Syndrome, 50 couples had embryo transfer. Among patients with successful sperm retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, 7 couples achieved pregnancy. Rate of fertilization was 28% in the Klinefelter group and 21% among patients without Klinefelter Syndrome. The rate of embryo transfer was 67% in Klinefelter group and 60% in patients without Klinefelter Syndrome. 

The authors concluded that micro-testicular sperm extraction is a successful treatment for most men with Klinefelter Syndrome. 

Talk to your doctor about the possibility of undergoing microsurgical testicular sperm extraction.