Mainstream Urology Center for Men's Sexual and Reproductive Health

OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS WITH ABSENT OR LOW SPERM COUNTS

  1. Blood tests to check normal hormone levels.
  2. Examination of urine after ejaculation to check for sperm (retrograde ejaculation).
  3. Prostate ultrasound (sonogram) to check for blockage.
  4. Biopsy of testicles to see if there is sperm production or lack of sperm producing cells.
  5. Sperm retrieval at the time of biopsy to use later on in ICSI procedure.
  6. Chromosome testing.

OPTIONS FOR PATIENTS WHO HAVE HAD VASECTOMY OR FAILED VASECTOMY REVERSAL

  1. Vasectomy reversal surgery.
  2. Sperm retrieval at time of vasectomy reversal if possible.
  3. Vasoepididymostomy.
  4. MESA. Surgery on the epididymis to obtain sperm. ICSI is the only option for pregnancy.
  5. TESE. Testicle biopsy to obtain sperm. ICSI is the only option for pregnancy.

POINTS TO CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING ON OPTIONS

  1. IUI, intrauterine insemination, requires at least 5 million sperm. MESA, TESE, Testicle biopsy, do not provide this number of sperm. You will have to use IVF or ICSI.
  2. The best sperm comes from the epididymis. Testicle biopsy is quicker, and less expensive, but sperm quality is lower. The embryologists prefer to work with actual sperm rather than testicle tissue.
  3. If you are missing a chromosome, you may pass this trait to any male children and they will be infertile.

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