Advanced Urology Associates Infertility and Reproductive Health Services
Advanced Urology Associates provides infertility and reproductive health services to meet the needs of patients. Advanced Urology Associates have advanced facilities for sperm aspiration and open sperm retrieval procedures.
What is Infertility?
Infertility is the inability to conceive after at least one year of unprotected intercourse. Since most people are able to conceive within this time, physicians recommend that couples unable to do so be assessed for fertility problems.
Symptoms of Infertility
Causes of Infertility
Varicocele. Swelling of the veins is the most common cause of male infertility. Complications with veins may prevent cooling of the testicle, leading to a lower sperm count.
Sperm duct defects. Tubes that transport sperm can be damaged or blocked.
Infection. Sexually transmitted infections including gonorrhea, chlamydia, and prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate) can cause permanent testicular damage, or scarring that blocks sperm passage.
Retrograde ejaculation. Semen enters the bladder during orgasm instead of emerging from the penis.
Hormone imbalances. An abnormality in the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid or adrenal glands can lower testosterone, resulting in a lower sperm count.
Erectile dysfunction (ED). Trouble maintaining an erection during sex.
Premature ejaculation. Inability to sustain sexual intercourse for more than one minute prior to ejaculation.
Drugs and alcohol. Steroids can cause testicles to shrink and sperm production to decrease. Other substances such as cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco (nicotine) can temporarily reduce the quality and count of sperm.
Medications and prior surgery. Steroid use, hormone replacement therapy, chemotherapy, and other medications can impair sperm production. Additionally, surgeries such as hernia repairs, vasectomies, and scrotal, prostate, or testicular procedures can cause blockage from the epididymis.
Infertility Treatments
Drug therapy. Medications to improve sperm production, treat hormonal dysfunction, cure infections that compromise sperm, and fight sperm antibodies.
Surgery. An operation for male infertility is performed to treat reproductive tract obstruction and varicocele. Vasoepididymostomy is a microsurgical procedure that corrects obstruction in the coiled tube that connects the testes with the vas deferens (epididymis). Obstructions commonly result from STDs and also include cysts and tubal closure (atresia), which is usually genetic. Vericocelectomy , the removal of a varicocele from the testes, often results in increased sperm count.
Reproductive Health Services
Advanced Urology Associates has specialists who can properly perform open sperm and sperm aspiration procedures. There are two types of sperm aspirations procedures:
Sperm Aspiration Retreival
Microepididymal sperm aspiration (MESA):
A specialist will pass a small needle through a patient’s scrotum and through the epididymis. This will allow the epididymal fluid and sperm to be aspirated out.
Testicular sperm aspiration (TESA):
A specialist will pass a very thin needle into the testicle to aspirate the sperm and testicular tissue. Afterwards, the sperm is taken from the patient’s testicular tissue.