Sperm Retrieval in Atlanta, GA

As an experienced, board-certified urologist who has focused part of his career on male infertility treatments, Dr. Tariq Hakky offers his expertise in sperm retrieval for men with fertility issues. Surgically extracting sperm is reserved for men with fertility obstacles, such as a limited amount of sperm production, an ejaculation disorder (retrograde ejaculation), or obstructions within the ejaculatory ducts. Sperm retrieval is also available for men with erectile dysfunction who may have healthy sperm. However, Dr. Hakky can assist with his aspiration techniques as it is necessary to have an erect penis to achieve ejaculation.

Dr. Hakky will perform a variety of tests to find the source of your lack of quality sperm available to start your family with your partner. To thoroughly assess your sexual reproductive health, he may need to run a few tests to check your hormone levels that aid in the production of ejaculate, a semen analysis, a series of genetic tests, and an x-ray or ultrasound to detect an obstruction. There are two types of sperm retrieval procedures Dr. Hakky regularly performs with great success:

• Sperm extracted from the epididymis with MESA
• Sperm removed from the testicle with Micro-TESE

If you would like to learn more about our sperm retrieval procedures, please call Atlanta Cosmetic Urology in Atlanta, GA, and schedule a consultation today.

Candidates for a sperm retrieval procedure will produce sperm that meets the minimal standards of adequacy. From two different ejaculate samplings (about 2 – 4 weeks apart), a candidate for sperm retrieval will have:

• 1.5 – 5.0 cc of ejaculate volume
• Sperm density found to be less than 20 million/cc
• Sperm with 60% motility (movement)
• Forward progression (sperm speed) that is greater than two on a scale from 1 – 4
• Sperm morphology (shape) greater than 60% normal
• No sperm antibodies
• No infection or elevated white blood cells (pyospermia)
• No semen hyperviscosity (SHV)

Centering in on the health of your sperm, Dr. Hakky will evaluate your medical history, physical exam, blood work, and diagnostic testing before recommending treatment options.

Even though there is not enough sperm in your ejaculate, there are surgical ways to retrieve it for injection into an egg in a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA)
MESA involves the collection of sperm surgically through the epididymis. This treatment will be performed in an operating room with a general anesthetic. Because the sperm cannot move into the testicle because of an obstructed ejaculatory duct, Dr. Hakky can aspirate 10 – 20 million sperm via MESA through a microscope and microsurgical instruments. All of the incisions made in the epididymal tube and scrotum will be secured with sutures. While you recover, your sperm will be processed and prepared for insemination.

Microsurgical Testicular Sperm Extractions (Micro-TESE)
Micro-TESE is available for men with sperm production issues and has no sperm in the ejaculate (also known as azoospermia). Micro-TESE is also performed in an operating room while you are under a general anesthetic. Dr. Hakky will use a microscope during the surgery. He will make an incision on the testicle so that it can be opened wide for him to see the testicular tubules and to aspirate sperm. Once the sperm is collected, the incisions will be closed, and you will be sent into recovery.

Obstructed Ejaculatory Duct Removal
If you have an obstructed duct that is reducing your chances of conceiving, you may need to have a transurethral resection of the ejaculatory duct surgery (TURED). Scar tissue from a previous infection, a cyst, a calcification, and other obstacles of the vas deferens can cause the flow of the sperm and semen to come to a halt. Using microsurgery, the obstruction can be cut out. The vas deferens can be reattached so that semen and sperm can flow freely once again without obstruction and improve your infertility.

If you and your female partner would like to plan your sperm aspiration to coincide with the egg retrieval, Dr. Hakky will schedule your procedure so that you get the timing just right. To prepare for the sperm retrieval, please abstain from ejaculating for at least 48 – 72 hours for the best sperm sampling to harvest. Not adhering to the abstinence period will interfere with your results and require additional retrievals.

If the timing is not right for you and your partner to plan for doctor-assisted reproduction procedures (in vitro fertilization or IVF, intrauterine insemination or IUI, or ICSI), there is an alternative. You can cryopreserve (freeze) your sperm to save it for a later date or for an additional future pregnancy through ICSI.

If you are unsure why you are not able to father a child and have been consistently trying for more than a year, your best bet is to get an appointment with our board-certified urologist, Dr. Hakky in Atlanta, GA. If you are willing to go through the testing and possible surgery to retrieve your sperm, you have a better chance at conceiving. Atlanta Cosmetic Urology has an experienced urologist who believes that your infertility issues were unavoidable — that does not mean you are untreatable. We would like to be the urology team you can turn to for help.