In some situations, the condition causing infertility is not treatable through the use of medication or procedures including intrauterine inseminations and ovarian drilling. For these cases, surgical options are explored to treat the condition in the female or male.
Female Surgical Options?
Hysteroscopy – A hysteroscopy is an outpatient procedure in which your doctor will use a narrow fiberoptic telescope inserted into your uterus through your cervix, to look for and sometimes remove adhesions inside your uterus.
Laparoscopy – A laparoscopy is an outpatient surgical procedure in which your doctor will use a narrow fiberoptic telescope inserted through an incision near your navel to look for and sometimes remove adhesions in your pelvic cavity, remove ovarian cysts or remove or repair a fluid-filled hydrosalpinx.
Fallopian Tube Sterilization Reversal (reanastomosis) – A tubal reversal is a surgical procedure performed to reconnect the two ends of the fallopian tubes in an effort to reverse sterilization.
Hydrosalpinx removal – A hydrosalpinx is an obstructed fallopian tube that leads to an accumulation of fluid. Removal of the affected tube can increase IVF success rates.
Male Surgical Options
Testicular biopsy – Testicular biopsy performed as an in-office surgical procedure in which several small pieces of testicular tissue are removed and examined for sperm which can be used in fertility procedures.
Testicular sperm aspiration (TESA) – A TESA procedure involves a needle biopsy of the testicle in which a sample of tissue is taken directly from the testis and used to extract sperm for IVF or ICSI.
Percutaneous sperm aspiration (PESA) – PESA is a procedure involving a needle inserted into the epididymis in an effort to locate and aspirate a pocket of sperm.
Vasectomy reversal – A vasectomy reversal is often performed as an outpatient procedure and is done to reverse a previous vasectomy and restore the male’s ability to release sperm into his semen from the testicles.
