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TESA
- Days In Hospital 1 days
- Outside Hospital Stay 3 days
- Success Rate 75%
Minimum Cost
$ 250
Maximum Cost.
$ 500
Overview of TESA in India
TESA is a technique that surgically collects the male partner’s sperm to treat infertility and allow female partners to have babies when the male cannot get them by ejaculation. If a male partner cannot produce enough sperm to ejaculate from the penis when he has sexual intercourse with his female partner, TESA allows him to extract sperm directly from his testicles with small incisions in the skin. TESA can also be performed on males who produce sperm in their testicles but cannot release it into the vagina due to a blockage at some point between the production and release of the sperm in their bodies. Additionally, TESA may also be an option for men with retrograde ejaculation—cases where semen goes to the urine and not the vagina during ejaculation.
Doctors often use this procedure alongside other treatments like IVF. They take eggs from the woman and pick sperm collected through TESA to fertilise them in the lab. TESA is safe, but doctors look at the specific cause of male infertility, the man’s age, and why he needs the procedure before recommending it. Sometimes, they use TESA to collect and store sperm ahead of treatments like radiation or chemotherapy—treatments that can lower sperm count later on.
What is the Testicular Sperm Aspiration (TESA) Procedure?
TESA is a way to collect sperm directly from the testicles, usually for IVF or microinjection. Doctors do this under local anaesthesia, often at the same time they collect eggs from the female partner. They use a thin needle to pull out sperm from the testicle. Men who’ve had a vasectomy, have obstructive azoospermia, or deal with other sperm blockages tend to need TESA the most.
If TESA doesn’t get enough sperm, doctors usually go for an open testicular biopsy next.
Once they have the sperm, they can use it right away for IVF, or freeze it for later. That’s called cryopreservation. Your fertility specialist can help you decide what makes sense for you.
Types of TESA:
Conventional Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESA)
In conventional TESA, a thin needle is introduced into the testicle, and a small quantity of tissue is taken from it. The acquired tissue is then checked in a laboratory using specialized instruments to identify and extract healthy sperm to use for assisted reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Microdissection Testicular Sperm Extraction (Micro-TESE)
Micro-TESE is an advanced technique when compared with conventional TESA. Micro-TESE requires the use of sophisticated surgically designed tools to locate and extract sperm within the testicular tissue. The micro-TESE technique allows men who produce very low quantities of sperm to have a greater chance of successful fertilization, as it ensures that healthy sperm are obtained and minimizes risk of damage to the surrounding testicular tissue.
Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE)
TESE is yet another method of obtaining sperm directly from the testicles. There are two ways a testis can be removed for the extraction of sperm: conventional TESA and micro-TESE. Both techniques can be performed concurrently to provide for the extraction of sperm from patients with difficult-to-treat sperm conditions.
Testicular Sperm Aspiration with Mapping (TESA-M)
TESA-M is a technique where doctors check different parts of the testicle to find spots with the most sperm. This mapping makes it easier to find and collect sperm, especially when sperm production is really low and every bit counts.
Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)
With fine needle aspiration, the doctor uses a specialised needle to pull sperm from the testicle. It’s often less invasive than regular TESA and can work as another option, but it doesn’t suit everyone.
Procedure:
Preparation Before Undergoing TESA
The process starts with a consultation between the fertility specialist and patient to review the patient's medical history, conduct a physical examination and evaluate the reasons for their infertility. If our physician feels that TESA is appropriate for you, he or she will make this recommendation.
To evaluate male infertility, a semen analysis may also be conducted. A semen analysis provides information about the sperm count, motility and morphology. This assessment will help determine if TESA is necessary.
Blood tests may also be conducted to establish if there are any hormonal or genetic issues causing infertility.
Both partners can receive counselling to familiarise themselves with the TESA procedure, including risks, benefits, and possible outcomes.
If our physician deems that medication may aid in increasing the sperm production or quality prior to performing TESA, the patient will be given the appropriate prescription.
During the Procedure for TESA
Local anaesthesia: Local anaesthesia is given before the procedure to help keep the patient comfortable while it is being performed.
Needle aspiration: A fine needle will be inserted into the testicle, and the sperm containing fluid will be drawn out from the testicular tissue via aspiration.
Sperm extraction: The aspirated fluid will be examined in detail to identify and isolate the sperm. It is common for patients with very poor fertility to produce viable sperm using this method.
Sperm preservation: The extracted sperm will be kept for use in assisted reproductive techniques such as ICSI; this is where a single sperm is injected into an egg.
After Undergoing TESA
Recovery takes a little time after TESA, so don’t rush it. Rest up and skip any heavy lifting or intense activities for a few days—your body will thank you.
You’ll probably feel some soreness or mild pain, but that’s normal. If it gets uncomfortable, your doctor can give you something for the pain. Don’t tough it out; use the meds if you need them.
The medical team will check the sperm they collected to see if it’s good quality. They’ll use it for treatments like ICSI. Your fertility specialist will walk you through what’s next, whether that’s moving forward with ICSI or looking at other options.
Your doctor might also suggest a few lifestyle tweaks to improve your odds—think eating well, staying active, and skipping habits that hurt fertility.
You’ll need to come back for follow-up visits so your specialist can track how you’re doing and see if the procedure worked. Don’t skip these—they’re important.
Best Doctors in India
Cost of TESA in India
In India, the TESA process costs between $215 and $285 USD. The type of technique or instruments utilised during the treatment may have an impact on the cost. Additionally, the cost may change depending on the surgeon's expertise and each patient's difficulties.
Top Hospitals in India
Indications of TESA:
Doctors use TESA in a few situations. First, it helps men with obstructive azoospermia—basically, these men make sperm, but it can’t get into the semen because something’s blocking the spermatic duct. That blockage might come from things like an epididymal obstruction, a past vasectomy, or even if someone was born without a vas deferens.
Some men can’t ejaculate properly, or their semen can’t be collected at all. In those cases, TESA comes into play.
If a man’s ejaculate doesn’t have any sperm and the couple wants to try ICSI (which only needs one live sperm to fertilise an egg), TESA is the way to find that single sperm cell for the procedure.
It’s also handy when there are just a few sperm in the semen—sometimes that’s all you get.
Doctors usually try TESA before moving on to more complicated or invasive procedures, like micro-TESE.
Risk Factors:
Here are some of the risks that come with TESA:
Pain and Discomfort
You’ll probably feel some pain or discomfort around the area where they do the procedure. Sometimes it’s just a little sore, sometimes it hurts more. Most people find that pain meds help, and the pain usually fades pretty quickly, but everyone’s different.
Infection
There’s always a chance you’ll get an infection where they make the incision or give the injection. If an infection sets in, it can spread and lead to bigger problems.
Bleeding and Hematoma
Bleeding can happen during or after TESA. Sometimes, blood clots form in the area, and that can lead to more serious issues—even something life-threatening if it’s not handled right.
Tissue Damage
Occasionally, TESA can damage the surrounding tissue. When that happens, it can affect sperm production down the road. The risk goes up if the person doing the procedure isn’t skilled or uses poor technique.
Allergic Reaction
Some people have allergic reactions to the medication or tools used during TESA. It doesn’t happen to everyone, but it’s something to watch out for.
Failure to Retrieve Sperm
Sometimes, TESA just doesn’t work out. The doctor might not get enough healthy sperm, and that can really hit hard for both the patient and their partner.
Post-procedure Pain and Swelling
A bit of pain or swelling after TESA isn’t unusual. It usually fades on its own and doesn’t need extra treatment.
Sperm Quality
Sperm from TESA isn’t always perfect. Sometimes it shows genetic problems or doesn’t swim well, and that can make fertility treatment tougher.