TESA - All You Should Be Aware Of!

Obstructive Azoospermia or OA is one of the commonest causes of male infertility. It can result from congenital problems, iatrogenic injury or even an infection. This condition is characterized by the absence of spermatozoa in a man’s semen in spite of normal spermatogenesis (development of sperm).

OA is a condition that makes pregnancy nearly impossible without assistance. Couples need sperm retrieval along with In Vitro Fertilization to reproduce.

There are a number of different surgeries, which target Obstructive Azoospermia. Testicular Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (TESA) and Testicular Epididymal Sperm Extraction (TESE) are two such techniques. They are necessary for men who have a blockage in their epididymis (a duct behind the testes). This defect could be the result of a surgery, an infection or it could also be a birth defect.

TESA and TESE can help a man a biological father with assistance.

How is TESA/TESE performed?

Both TESA and TESE are about sperm retrieval. When a person is diagnosed with obstructive azoospermia, a patient selection is done. This is crucial to sperm retrieval. Sperm retrieval should never be used on a person with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia because the chances of finding sperm in the epididymis are low. That is why patients are categorized under either OA or NOA. If the man has OA, then doctors determine the set of causes of his condition. Factors like whether the man has undergone a vasectomy, or if the couple wants to opt for IVF or vasectomy reversal- all play a part in which of the two procedures, TESA or TESE, is ideal.

Other points taken into consideration are-

• Childhood illnesses
• Vaccination history
• Medication that the man might be under now
• Past trauma to the pelvis
• Infectious diseases

Accordingly, a man will be placed under hormone treatment prior to sperm retrieval.

For TESA, the patient is put under local anaesthesia. It can be performed at short notice. Only a small amount of sperm can be retrieved and the sperm cannot be cryopreserved.

TESE too is performed under local anaesthesia and oral sedation. This procedure has a high sperm retrieval rate. It also provides a pathological diagnosis. Though the samples can be cryopreserved, best results will be yielded if fresh samples are used. It is the cheapest sperm retrieval procedure, but there are chances of testicular scarring and damage.

Infertility needs no longer ruin your dreams of expanding your family. TESA or TESE can come to your rescue to bypass male infertility. Consult a gynaecologist and get yourself diagnosed early to get rid of the problem.