More on Men

Today the shift is moving away from women being the main cause of infertility in couples wanting to have children toward checking both parts of the couple to ensure there is fertility on both sides of the coin. More men are willing to undergo testing and treatment for infertility and along with the rise in willing participants is the rise in answers to some of the baffling questions of fertility - or lack thereof.

Under the rather broad heading of Assisted Reproduction Therapy are methods to improve erectile dysfunction, induce ejaculation, obtain sperm and inseminate an egg. We'll explore some of them in this article.

EEJ - Electroejaculation

Electroejaculation, or EEJ, is a procedure which can be used to produce ejaculation when the man's sperm count is normal but some type of neurological dysfunction may prevent ejaculation. An electrical rectal probe, which causes ejaculation by generating a current which stimulates nerves, allows for the collection of the sperm which is emitted through the urethra after stimulation. Usually, the day before the treatment sodium bicarbonate is taken to ensure the urine is alkaline (nonacidic) and not dangerous to the sperm. Candidates for this type of treatment are men who have undergone removal of testes, lymph node dissection and men who have suffered spinal cord injuries.

Sperm Retrieval - PESA and TESE

A technique to obtain sperm from the testes, called sperm retrieval, is used when there is an obstruction or absence of the vas deferens - a sperm duct or a pair of ducts that carry sperm from the testes to the urethra during ejaculation - in the case of a failed vasectomy reversal or inadequate sperm production. A surgeon, using micro epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA), makes an incision in the scrotum and retrieves sperm from the ducts where sperm matures as it passes from the testes. Another, similar method of sperm retrieval, called percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA), or fine needle aspiration, does not require microsurgery as does MESA. A needle penetrates the scrotum and epididymis, the tube containing sperm which is attached to the testicle, and draws sperm into a syringe. Men who have impaired sperm production, or who have undergone MESA unsuccessfully, may be candidates for TESE, testicular sperm extraction, where a small amount of testicular tissue is removed and sperm is retrieved from it.

It Only Hurts for A Short Time

These sperm retrieval procedures are done under local anesthesia and usually take only 30 minutes. There is a chance of swelling and some pain associated with the procedures, however it is not long lasting. With constant strides in technology, testing and understanding, procedures are becoming more common in which men are tested and methods are established to help with infertility resolve.