Male infertility treatment

 ART can be used whether ther is a female or a male infertility issue. But if the cause of infertility comes only from the male part there are several infertility treatments depending on the type of male infertility cause.

  Sperm retrieval is a method use for man with low sperm count. There are several procedures of  sperm retrieval :

1) Testicular Sperm Extraction is a treatment used on men with a blockage that prevents sperm from getiing into their epididymis-a needle is inserted into the testis to remove testicular tissue and extract the sperm.  The treatment is applied under a general anaesthesis.

2) Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration is a procedure used if the semen doesn’t contain sperm-a needle is inserted into the scrotum and into the epididymis in order to remove the sperm cells. A local anaesthesis is performed and the treatment last 10-20 minutes.

3) Microepididymal Sperm Aspiration involves microsurgery in order to collect sperm from the blocked parts near the epididymis. Through a small incision in the scrotum the semen is extracted from the epididymal tube. The treatment is applied under a general anaesthesis and side effects like pain and discomfort can appear after the surgery.

  Sperm Preparation is a method used to increase sperm function and the chances to conceive. Among the procedures of  sperm preparation we can count:

1) Sperm washing-increases the sperm motility by removing immobile sperm and other substances that might diminish fertilization. This procedure is performed using a centrifuge wich separates the sperm cells from the seminal fluid.

2) Cryopreservation-sperm is collected and freezed for later use in a medium that allows the sperm to survive.

3) Swim-up technique. The healthiest and most active sperm swim upand reach the uterus. In order to keep only this type of sperm a culture medium is placed on the top of  a tube wich contains semen. The healthy sperm swim into the culture medium from where they are collected and used for fertilization.

   In addition to these treatments there are also surgical solutions for the male infertility problem such as:

a)Varicocelectomy-is a procedure used for repairing varicoceles.The veins are cut  so that the blood flow from the varicocele could be eliminated. The blood from varicocele diminish sperm production resulting in low sperm count.

b)Vasoepididymostomy is a procedure used for treating an epididymal obstruction, like  scarring or cysts.