Fertility options
Klinefelter's Syndrome has always been associated with infertility.
However it is now known that sperm are initially produced but these die off. If sperm can be found and extracted they can be cryopreserved (frozen) or used immediately after extraction for In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) with Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Below are details of some techniques currently being used to find sperm.
Although success rates are still quite low – around 10% to 15% – methods are improving all the time.
Recent research has indicated that fertility preservation in under 16s is ineffectual.
One of our members, who has fathered a daughter by this means is happy to talk to other members. Contact: vicechair@ksa-uk.net.
Many of our members have adopted children.
Others have used donor sperm.
TESE involves one or multiple small incisions in the testes using a local or general anesthetic.
TESA involves using a syringe and fine needle to remove (aspirate) sperm from the testes.
TESA with MAPPING: Multiple TESA needle aspirations are spread throughout the entire area of the testes. Some feel that this technique has a better chance at recovering sperm than standard techniques.
Both generally require only a local anaesthetic.
Micro-TESE involves opening the outer cover of the testicle and examining the inside of the testis under an operating microscope. Using this technique, your urologist may be able to see areas where sperm are present. This technique is performed by a urologist who is trained in microsurgery, usually in the operating room under local anesthesia with sedation or general anesthesia.
In this procedure, more testis is examined, however less testicular tissue is removed. Damage to testicular blood vessels is minimized, and some feel that success rates of finding sperm may be slightly higher than a conventional TESE that is performed without the use of high-powered optical magnification.
