Hi Rather Hazy

My DH did his first sperm test about 3 weeks ago which came back NIL. Our doc sent us to the FS who did a brief examination of the testes (which were a normal size), sent him for some genetic blood tests (they look for a cystic fybrosis gene) and gave us our options. He said that he would do another sperm test in a few weeks time and still if nothing (which it was), he would do a procedure on DH which is called a PESA/TESA. This is where they sedate DH (in a day hospital) and use a needle to check in the tubes and the testis for sperm (which would mean that there was a blockage somewhere - if they did find sperm, he was going to freeze the best ones and we would then start the IVF process). Unfortunately for us, that test came back as NIL too.

Millie x
The PESA/TESA is also known as a surgical sperm collection, which is what DH had on the 28th November - they cut open the testies (ouch) and will try and take sperm out of a couple of areas of the testies - one involves taking a biopsy. Ours came back with them only finding 1 or 2 immobile sperm (ie dead) so our next stage of options is for DH to have a bigger operation or to jump to donor sperm.

DH will be out for at least 24 hours after the procedure (in bed on pain relief - most comfortable position - and also coming off the sedatives) and will be mobile (with baggy pants) about 48 hours afterwards. DH reported that while the pain subsided (when he didn't move around), there were times when he got himself into a certain position where it felt that he had been "kneed in the balls" and this went on for almost a week afterwards. He also spend a great deal of time in baggy trackie pants.

Hope this helps understanding the procedure a bit better.

The actual timeline was something like this:
6am - at hospital
7.45am - to the theatre
9.30am - out to recovery
11.00ish - leaving the hospital