Surgery to fix a male blockage v. ICSI

Hi all,

This is my first post but I have been reading a few threads to see what might be out there about this. I can't seem to find anything on it, but if anyone else has been through this I would love your ideas.

My DP has obstructive azoospermia, a blockage somewhere in his tubes stopping sperm getting out (zero sperm count). (It took over a year before he actually went and got tested ... grrrr ;) Meanwhile I have had the works and am fine.)

We saw a urologist who just said that we have to go to IVF. I have been doing reading about surgery to fix the blockage, but he just said that there is a low chance of fixing it and our only option is IVF.

My acupuncturist does IVF complementary work and said she thinks not many people perform surgery anymore, since IVF is so good. I felt this is the case, I don't feel like it was even considered to be an option just because we could use IVF.

The urologist didn't even offer doing tests to find out about the blockage. From what I have read this can really change the chances of success!

Has anyone out there looked into surgery as an option?? Has anyone had it?? I would really love any ideas.

We are seeing my DP's GP about it next week. He is really good so hopefully can refer us to someone else ...

Thanks a lot and cheers with best of luck to all :D

Wish I could help Kate, but I don't know anyone whose DH has that condition.
They would have to go in with a needle to get the sperm to do IVF anyway, wouldn't they? So it's not like DH gets off easy with the IVF/ICSI option.
As someone who has been through IVF (although not as many cycles as some ladies), it can be emotionally and physically tough.

I guess it depends on the type of surgery your DH might require to remove the blockage, and the success rates of that. But it sounds like a very reasonable request that it gets looked into. Then you can compare the two alternatives, and decide which you both think suits you better.

Good Luck, and I hope you can get some answers to your question.

Hi there
My DP also has obstructive azoospermia. Well actually, the urologist has only said "it is characteristic of a blockage" so we just assume that is what it is. He also has a varicocoele. We were advised by the urologist to go down the IVF route as it had a higher success rate and that we'd basically have a better chance with IVF however, IF IVF didn't work (Im hopeful it will) then to look at having the surgery and "going for it" naturally. Ive looked briefly at having an embolisation (sp?) done on his varicocoele some men do have improvements in their results, others don't. I haven't really looked into surgery to correct the blockage as yet ( other than say to him maybe we should make an appt) I think we'll just stick with the IVF as I have found out recently that I am not without my problems but I too would be very interested in knowing about surgery to correct a blockage that other men have had and whether they had improved results. I got the impression that the urologist didnt think that surgery would give us a better chance at conceiving.
Anyway Ill be watching this thread Good luck to everyone