Treatment for Obstructive Azoospermia
Surgery can often fix blocked tubes in your reproductive tract or make connections that never developed because of congenital defects. Our doctors specialize in delicate treatments to treat obstructive azoospermia, safely and effectively restoring the flow of your sperm. Learn more about obstructive azoospermia. If surgical reconstruction is not possible, or you wish to avoid it, there is often another option. Our specialists can extract sperm from the:
- Testicles
- Epididymis, the adjacent tube where sperm mature
- Vas deferens, the tube that takes the sperm from there
We use extracted sperm to attempt pregnancy via in vitro fertilization (IVF). Learn more about sperm extraction.
Our specialists will take the time to fully discuss the options with you and help you make a decision. If surgery is possible, there are two types: microsurgery and endoscopic surgery.
Obstructive azoospermia and microsurgery
Microsurgery is a proven technique with a long history. Our experts have special fellowship training to perform it, meaning they studied an additional year to specialize in this treatment. During surgery:
- You are put completely to sleep with general anesthesia.
- Your doctor makes a small incision on your scrotum.
- Using high-powered magnification and special instruments, your doctor carefully fixes the blockage or restores the missing connection and closes the incision.
We use microsurgery to repair problems with the epididymis and the vas deferens.
Obstructive azoospermia and endoscopic surgery
Endoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a smaller incision. During surgery:
- You are put completely to sleep with general anesthesia, with additional local anesthesia for your comfort.
- Your doctor uses a special scope (very thin, flexible tube) with a camera, light and magnification into the surgical spot, with the image projected onto a monitor for guidance.
- The scope is delicately threaded through your urethra — avoiding the need for an incision. We carefully repair the blockage.
We use endoscopic surgery to repair problems with the ejaculatory duct, the tube from which the sperm exit into the urethra and mix with fluid to form semen.
Testicular sperm extraction or aspiration
If the genital tract cannot be reconstructed or the man does not wish repair, a simple office based procedure can get sperm directly from the testicle to be used with IVF.
