TESA Procedure for Male Infertility: Everything you Need to Know

Are you suffering from male infertility that reduces the likelihood of becoming a parent?

TESA, which stands for Testicular Sperm Aspiration, might be the solution. It’s a reliable way to extract sperm from the testicle, particularly if sperm is missing in the ejaculate.

At ART Fertility Clinics, we offer couples access to the latest in scientific and science-based technologies and compassionate care in creating their family.

What is TESA?

TESA means Testicular Sperm Aspiration. It is a surgical process where the sperm are extracted straight from the testicle with a very fine needle.

It is commonly suggested for men whose semen contains no sperm, a condition called azoospermia. This can happen due to:

Blockages in the reproductive tract
Genetic conditions
Hormonal problems
Unsuccessful ejaculate because of injury or disease

TESA is often coupled with IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) or ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection). ‘It allows couples to carry on, even with the most difficult fertility cases.

When is TESA Recommended?

TESA is often suggested when:

There is no sperm in the ejaculated semen (azoospermia)
A vasectomy or other obstruction of the sperm has occurred in the past.
There are very few sperm, and they need to be directly retrieved
A couple is undergoing ICSI, and high-quality sperm is needed
There are issues with ejaculation due to spinal cord injury or other causes

Male infertility accounts for almost 50% of infertility worldwide as per the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics. There is hope for such couple, procedures such as TESA give hope.

How is TESA procedure performed?

TESA is an office procedure performed under local anesthesia. You can get this done with no side effect and it's very fast, safe 100% guaranteed. Here’s how the process works:

The skin above the testicle is cleaned and given anesthetic
With a fine needle, a tiny sample of testicular tissue is withdrawn
This tissue is eventually sent to the embryology laboratory in order to check for live sperm
If present, the sperm is immediately used for ICSI or cryopreserved for later use
The complete process will typically last 15 to 30 minutes. There is no cutting or sewing

Is TESA Painful?

TESA is described by most men as feeling like a pinprick. There may be mild discomfort or swelling afterward, but it generally dissipates in a day or two. Rest, cool packs and mild pain relivers are generally sufficient.

TESA vs Other Techniques of Sperm Extraction

TESA is a type of surgical sperm retrieval. These involve TESE (Testicular Sperm Extraction) and Micro-TESE. Here's a quick comparison:

Technique	Method	When Used
TESA	Needle aspiration	First-line choice in many azoospermia cases
TESE	Small tissue biopsy	If TESA does not retrieve sperm
Micro-TESE	Microsurgical biopsy	For very low sperm production

TESA is generally less invasive and preferred for the initial attempt.

TESA with IVF/ICSI

The sperm obtained by TESA are usually immotile (not moving) and are unable to fertilize an egg on their own. That is why it is combined with ICSI, where a single sperm is injected directly into the egg.

Fertilization rate and pregnancy rates significantly increases with a combination of TESA and ICSI. Combined approach is particularly beneficial for couples with male infertility.

TESA Success Rate

In the case of TESA, success is being able to recover/extract good sperm. The outcome is influenced by the etiology of azoospermia.

In obstructive azoospermia (due to blockage), sperm retrieval can be as successful as 90 to 100%.
In non-obstructive azoospermia (low or no sperm produced), 40–60% are successful with sperm being produced.
After the retrieval and use of sperm in ICSI, the probability of pregnancy depends on different factors:
Quality of the sperm
Age and fertility status of the female partner
Shape of the eggs and embryos

What Happens After the Procedure?

Recovery from TESA is quick. Most men are back to a regular routine within a day or two. Some may feel:

Mild pain or discomfort
Slight swelling or bruising
Sensitivity at the site
To aid healing, doctors generally recommend:
Light activity for a day
Abstinence for a couple of days
No lifting or gym for a week or two

Your doctor will tell you when you can get back to your usual activities.

Is TESA Safe?

Sure, TESA is safe and low-risk procedure when performed by experienced operator. Some rare side effects are:

Minor bleeding
Infection (very rare)
Temporary testicular discomfort

At ART Fertility Clinics, we have all safety precautions in place pre, during and post treatment for optimum results and patient comfort.

Why to choose ART Fertility Clinic for TESA?

We believe that hopeful parents of every kind deserve a scientific, caring, and personalized path to parenthood. Our team includes:

Expert andrologists and embryologists
State of the art labs with latest sperm analysis and storage capabilities
Rigorous quality control and ethical treatment
Good outcomes with TESA-ICSI cycles
Encouraging, people to walk you through it.

We know fertility treatment can be emotional. That’s why we pair science, diplomacy and care to smooth the route along the way.

Conclusion

Male infertility isn’t the end of the line. With increasing options such as TESA, many men can be biological dads, even if there are no sperm in their ejaculate.

TESA is safe, efficacious, and well established as a minimally invasive procedure. With ICSI it provides hope and results for countless couples suffering from male factor infertility.

If you are considering fertility, contact us at ART Fertility Clinics. We’re here for you to navigate forward, with care, clarity and confidence.

Fill up the form to get

Free IVF Consultation