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Obtaining viable sperm from frozen-thawed testicular tissue can be variable. Sometimes you can get viable sperm, sometimes not. If frozen-thawed testicular sperm are to be used, I agree that you should consider purchasing donor sperm for back up. If using donor sperm as a backup is not acceptable, I would suggest you schedule the IVF procedure when your husband can be present and provide fresh testicular tissue.

If it is possible to obtain epididymal sperm (MESA), then having donor sperm as a backup is not as necessary (although still a good idea). Because epididymal sperm are considerable more mature than testicular sperm, their post-thaw survival is higher.

For more information about TESA/TESE and MESA, see:

http://www.sbivf.com/
male_surgeries.htm


You
are correct that donor sperm is also frozen, but the survival rate is much higher because these fully mature sperm were ejaculated prior to freezing.

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Sir,
As it turns out my husband my be able to be present for my cycle(but with the military things are subject to change without notice)
My question now is if they harvest my husband in December and for some reason have to do TESE can he act as his own back up for the cycle or would it be too soon to harvest him again in January?

Thank you for all your help,
Sylvia

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I can think of no reason why he can't provide the backup specimen (testicular tissue or epididymal sperm) in December and the tissue/sperm could then be used in January, if necessary. Of course, fresh is better.

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Sir,
I am sorry, I guess I wasn't very clear. I meant that if they take a sample in December and freeze it and the sperm do not survive the thaw can he then turn around in January and give another sample at the time of ER. Or would that be too soon?

V/R,
Sylvia

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Yes, that would be possible too. The TESE/MESA procedures are often done under a local anesthetic and the recovery time is a few days. He would be able to undergo two procedures within a month if it is necessary.

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