Male Infertility

Micro-paragraph: With male infertility a factor in 30 to 40 percent of infertility cases, learn more about GoFertility’s male-specific treatments to assist in your goal of having a baby.

Male infertility is a factor for about 30 to 40 percent of infertile couples, which is part of the reason GoFertility, or CRMRS, treats the condition comprehensively for both males and females. Dr. Saji Jacob and our highly trained team provide multiple in-office treatments for males that recently were reserved solely for expensive operating-room settings. These high-tech treatments include:

• ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)
• PESA (percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration)
• TESA (testicular sperm aspiration)
• HOS (hypo-osmotic swelling) test

Learn more about these advanced male-specific treatments below. When you choose GoFertility in St. Louis, you’re selecting a top-50 U.S. fertility clinic (Newsweek, 2024) and one of just two Missouri-located facilities to earn this prestigious recognition.

GoFertility is led by Dr. Jacob, a renowned infertility specialist, reproductive endocrinologist and embryologist. He is one of a select few dual board-certified OB/GYN doctors and high-complexity clinical lab directors in the country. Trust your care to Dr. Jacob and his friendly, knowledgeable team of professionals. Reach out to us at 314-473-1285 or AGraham@GoFertility.com.

What is the process for ICSI?

ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) promotes the best chance of egg fertilization, which is why our team performs ICSI on all mature eggs chosen for the in-vitro fertilization (IVF) process. In ICSI, a male’s single, healthy sperm is selected by our clinical laboratory embryologists. This sperm is then injected into the cytoplasm of a mature egg using a microscopic needle.

When choosing sperm, our highly trained team uses cutting-edge technology to catch the best sperm: healthy, oval-shaped heads with long, strong tails that aren’t broken. Healthy sperm significantly boosts the odds of successful egg fertilization with a 100 percent fertilization rate attainable through ICSI.

Who can benefit from ICSI, and is the procedure safe?

ICSI is especially advantageous for severe male infertility factors such as low sperm count, low sperm motility and high sperm abnormality. A lack of male sperm when ejaculating due to vasectomies or reproductive tract infections is also aided by ICSI after PESA/TESA is completed.

Chromosome abnormalities are suspected to be a leading cause for male infertility, with up to 20 percent of cases connected to this trait. There are potential genetic trait risks that could be passed onto the embryo when ICSI is performed, which Dr. Jacob will educate patients on during their appointment.

ICSI has helped hundreds of GoFertility’s patients — and couples across the globe — successfully attain parenthood when other procedures didn’t work. It is a safe procedure with minimal risk that enables our team to select the healthiest sperm to pair with the healthiest egg for optimal embryo results. High-end equipment and skilled, detail-driven personnel are necessary for a successful ICSI procedure, and patients will receive just that at GoFertility.

PESA & TESA Procedures

Through the process of PESA (percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration) or TESA (testicular sperm aspiration), sperm is collected directly from the testis. These minimally invasive, virtually painless procedures are completed quickly — about 20 to 40 minutes — with the patient under mild sedation. Recovery is immediate and cost is a fraction of the expense of surgery.

PESA involves a fine needle passing into the epididymis to collect sperm, while TESA refers to a fine needle passing through the skin and directly to the testes. In either procedure, local anesthesia is applied before proceeding. Sperm is then either used fresh in tandem with the oocytes or frozen in our cryo bank for future ICSI cycles. In rare cases post-TESA, HOS tests help our laboratory team distinguish the live sperm from dead sperm.

Recently, GoFertility has seen an influx of male patients who discovered taking protein supplements containing synthetic testosterone or a testosterone derivative have rendered them infertile. With this issue becoming increasingly prevalent, please reach out to GoFertility to speak further about the over-the-counter muscle-building supplements you’re taking and if this could be impacting your sperm count. Our team and Dr. Jacob are here to help and be a resource to you. We are always welcoming new patients, and we look forward to the opportunity to assist you.