What Is a Microscopic Testicular Sperm Extraction (MicroTESE)?
Microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (microTESE) is a surgical treatment for male infertility. It takes male reproductive cells (sperm) directly from the testicular tissue in your reproductive system. Your testicular tissue is in your testicles.
The goals of the microTESE procedure are to:
. Get enough sperm to fertilize an egg from a woman.
. Obtain the best quality sperm.
. Minimize damage to the reproductive organs.
How Much Does microTESE Cost in Iran?
The cost of microTESE may depend on:
. What your doctor charges for microTESE.
. Where you get the procedure.
The cost of microTESE in Iran Starts from $ 800.
What Does Microsurgical Testicular Sperm Extraction Treat?
Doctors usually recommend microTESE to treat male infertility caused by the absence of sperm in your semen (azoospermia). If you want to have a biological child, your doctor may recommend microTESE. However, you cannot naturally make or release enough healthy sperm to fertilize an egg cell.
How Should I Prepare for Microsurgical Testicular Sperm Extraction?
You will meet with your doctor before microTESE. They will:
. Review your health history.
. Perform a physical examination to check your general health.
. Take your vitals (temperature, pulse and blood pressure).
Tell your doctor about your allergies you have to make your procedure as safe as possible. You should also provide a list of all prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications you are taking, including herbal supplements. Certain medications and herbal supplements may increase the risk of bleeding. Consult your doctor before stopping any medication.
Your doctor will also give you specific instructions about eating and drinking before microTESE. You should not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the procedure. If necessary, you should take medications with a small sip of water.
What Are the Benefits of Microsurgical Testicular Sperm Extraction?
The main advantage of microTESE is that it increases your chances of having a biological child.
What Are the Risks or Complications of microTESE?
The main complication is that doctors can’t find enough or any healthy sperm in your tissue samples to fertilize an egg.
Possible risks of microTESE include:
. Bleeding.
. Anesthesia risks.
. Pain or discomfort.
. Infection.
There is also a possibility of permanent damage to the testicles. But this is very rare.
What Happens During microTESE?
A urologist usually performs microTESE in an operating room while you are under general anesthesia. General anesthesia makes you temporarily fall asleep so you won’t feel pain or be aware of anything else in the operating room during the procedure.
While you are asleep, the urologist will:
. Use a surgical knife (scalpel) to make an incision (cut) in the middle of your scrotum (the pouch of skin behind your penis that usually holds your testicles).
. Make a few small cuts in your testicle and remove a small amount of tissue (testicular biopsy).
. Remove a tissue sample from your other testicle, if necessary.
. Send your tissue samples to a lab.
A lab technician will use a high-powered surgical microscope to look for sperm in the fine tubes of your tissue sample. If the technician finds sperm, your doctor can use it immediately to fertilize your partner’s egg or they can freeze it in liquid nitrogen (cryopreservation) and use it later during in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.
How Long Does This microTESE Take?
MicroTESE usually takes less than two hours.
What Happens After microTESE?
After collecting tissue samples, your doctor will use dissolvable stitches (sutures) to close your incisions. You will also stop receiving anesthesia. You will be conscious (awake) after a few minutes but will probably feel dizzy.
Doctors will continue to monitor your health. Once you fully wake up, they will treat your pain.
How Long Does It Take to Recover from MicroTESE?
Most people recover fully from microTESE within a few weeks. You may need to take a few days off work — longer if you have a physically demanding job. You should avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for at least a few days.
The first day or two are often the most painful. Applying an ice pack can help reduce pain and swelling. You can also help relieve pain with over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen (Tylenol®). Your doctor may also prescribe prescription pain relievers (analgesics).
What Is the Success Rate of Microsurgical Testicular Sperm Extraction?
Depending on the cause of azoospermia, doctors can retrieve healthy sperm in up to 60% of microTESE procedures.
When Should I Call a Doctor?
Call your doctor if you have any of the following complications after microTESE:
. Heavy bleeding around your incision.
. Severe pain.
. Blood in your pee (hematuria).
. Signs of sepsis.
. Signs of infection, including fever, chills or discoloration (red, purple, brown or black) or pus around your incision.
. Additional
FAQ:
- When Will I Know If Sperm Is Present in My Tissue Samples?
It depends. The lab may detect healthy sperm immediately after surgery, or results may take up to a day. Your doctor will let you know what to expect.
- Does the Microsurgical Testicular Sperm Extraction Procedure Need to Be Repeated?
It depends. If your care team uses all of your extracted sperm to fertilize your partner’s egg, you may need microTESE again to achieve another pregnancy. In such cases, it’s usually best to wait six to 12 months between microTESE procedures. You can also bank any remaining sperm.
- When Can I Have Sex After microTESE?
In general, you should avoid having sex or masturbating for at least a few days after microTESE.
4.What Is the Difference Between microTESE and TESE?
Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) is also a method of extracting sperm from testicular tissue. However, it doesn’t use a microscope to identify and extract sperm from smaller tubes that may contain sperm.
If you have obstructive azoospermia, your doctor may recommend TESE. Obstructive azoospermia means that your testicles are producing sperm, but there is a blockage or missing connection in your reproductive tract that prevents sperm from entering your semen.
Source:
. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/microtese
