TESA or Testicular Sperm Aspiration is one of the newest sperm retrieval techniques. This treatment is recommended to men with Azoospermia, a condition in which a lack of sperm is found in their ejaculate.In the past, the only options for treating azoospermia were reconstructive surgery (if there was obstruction) or donor insemination. Now, the advent of intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has enabled many azoospermic men to become biological fathers using sperm obtained from their epididymis or testis.
If their testicles are not making enough sperm or Non-obstructive Azoospermia or
If due to some blockage, the sperms get blocked from passing out to the semen or Obstructive Azoospermia
Extremely poor sperm production can be a hindrance to their fertility. In such cases, TESA has been a major breakthrough in extracting the sperm directly from a man’s testis. Men with azoospermia can father a child if sperm is retrieved from their testis or epididymis. This procedure is used in men with non-obstructive Azoospermia, wherein no sperms can be retrieved from the epididymis.
Testicular sperm aspiration is performed by inserting a needle into the testis and aspirating fluid and tissue using negative pressure. The sample is then processed to extract the sperm cells in the embryology laboratory using the ICSI or Intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
The sperm cells need not have to be mature and pass through epididymis to fertilize an egg. Since the testicular sperm is immature, they need ICSI, a technique in which a single sperm is taken from the semen and injected directly into the egg.
TESA can give some discomfort for a few days as it’s a slightly complex procedure. It is done under local anesthesia or sedation as per the patient’s preference in day care no need of any hospital stay. If TESA doesn’t provide enough sperm, testicular biopsy is needed in such cases.
Much speculations and concerns have been raised about the use of genetic material from a developing sperm cell. Also, there can be a chance that the cause of infertility can be transmitted to the progeny.
PRP is a concentrated blood product that contains a high percentage of platelets (biomolecules with natural healing and regenerative properties). To understand more, let’s take a step back and look at blood as a whole. In general, whole blood is composed of 4 main components:
Plasma: the liquid component of blood that consists mostly of water, dissolved salts and proteins.
Platelets: Also known as thrombocytes, platelets are cell-like particles that help in the clotting process and release other substances and growth factors.
Red Blood Cells: Also called erythrocytes, red blood cells carry oxygen is involved in the exchange of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide, brining oxygen to tissue, and removing carbon dioxide from the body.
White Blood Cells: Also known as (leukocytes) are white blood cells are primarily responsible for the body’s immune system.
PRP is used in a number of fertility treatments including IUI and IVF to assist with and improve egg quantity/quality and improve uterine lining thickness/enhance endometrial receptivity during an embryo transfer.
It is most often used in those who have undergone multiple IVF cycles with a history of recurrent implantation failure (RIF), a condition in which multiple IVF transfers do not result in pregnancy despite high-quality embryos being transferred on multiple occasions.
PRP is usually tried before turning to donor egg IVF, but may be used alongside donor egg cycles along with other supporting treatments focusing on reproductive immunology.
The IVF process is a series of procedures to improve fertility and facilitate the conception of a baby. There are various approaches that can be applied through in vitro fertilisation, depending on the cause of a couple’s infertility. Very promising research into physical therapy and infertility reveals that some women who underwent physical therapy increased their success of falling pregnant significantly. Let’s take a look at ‘how does IVF work’ and how a physiotherapist could help you.
Research into the effects of a certain technique of physical therapy has been found to be effective at helping women who had problems conceiving increase their rate of falling pregnant. In the study:
60% of women who had experienced infertility because of blocked fallopian tubes fell pregnant.
53% of women who had experienced infertility because of polycystic ovarian syndrome fell pregnant.
40% of women who had high levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, an indicator of ovarian failure fell pregnant.
43% of women with fertility problems due to endometriosis fell pregnant.
Going through fertility problems and undergoing IVF are stressful processes, and we all carry stress in the body. Maintaining optimal physical health can help to safeguard you against stress, no matter what stage of fertility treatment you might be in.
When you do become pregnant, a physiotherapist can help you with posture and ergonomics.
You’ll need to maintain strength and flexibility when you conceive, which can be difficult when your centre of gravity changes.
As your body grows with a developing baby, aches, sprains and strains become more common.
Having a physio on your treatment can help to ease some of the physical side effects of pregnancy.