Assisted reproduction can help induce ejaculation, manage erectile dysfunction and aid insemination.
Electroejaculation is used to produce ejaculation when it’s prevented by various erectile disorders. It’s usually carried out under a general anesthetic. An electric probe is inserted into the rectum; the probe delivers a slight electric current to stimulate nearby nerves, resulting in ejaculation; the semen is then collected.
Candidates for Electroejaculation include men who have/had:
Sperm retrieval is used to acquire semen from the testes or epididymis when there’s an obstruction, failed vasectomy reversal, inadequate sperm production or even azoospermia (absence of sperm in seminal fluid). It may involve several surgical and non-surgical methods, including:
Micro epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA): A surgeon makes an incision in the scrotum and gathers sperm from the epididymis , an elongated, coiled duct that matures, stores, and passes sperm from the testes .
Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA): A physician penetrates the scrotum and epididymis and draws sperm into a syringe.
Testicular sperm extraction (TESE): A physician removes a small amount of testicular tissue. It’s usually implemented to retrieve sperm from men with impaired sperm production, or when MESA fails.
These procedures usually take about 30 minutes to complete, may cause pain and swelling and use local anesthesia.
Sperm retrieved from any of these methods may be used in:
Leftover sperm from MESA or PESA can usually be frozen for future use but sperm from TESE generally isn’t high enough quality or quantity for frozen storage (cryopreservation).
Repetition of MESA or PESA procedures is not recommended as it can lead to scarring.
Sperm washing is the process of preparing sperm for intrauterine insemination by removing the seminal plasma. This method separates sperm from white blood cells and fatty acids in semen that may impede sperm motility. It also concentrates sperm, increasing the chances of conception.