Reproductive Surgery Sterilization and Reversal
Abstract
Overview of male reproductive surgery from UCSF's Center for Reproductive Health. Anatomical (surgical) male-factor problems can often be corrected with surgery, while some require medical therapy or assisted reproduction; effects on semen appear ~3 months after treatment (one spermatogenesis cycle). Covers varicocele (found in 42% of infertile men; semen improvement in ~67% and ~40% pregnancy after repair), vasectomy reversal (vasovasostomy with 85-99% return of sperm and 60-65% pregnancy with a healthy partner), ejaculatory duct obstruction (resection improves semen in ~70%, 20-30% pregnancy), and sperm-retrieval techniques (MESA, PESA, testicular extraction, testis mapping) used with IVF-ICSI when reconstruction is not possible.
