Sperm retrieval biopsy

Sperm harvesting is entirely different from a diagnostic testicular biopsy because, in this setting, the goal is not to identify what is happening in the testis but instead it is to find sperm. Only men with no sperm in their ejaculate azoospermia need to have sperm retrieved directly from the testis or epididymis. This may involve a simple aspiration for men who have a blockage or require much more extensive sampling of the testis for men who have a sperm production problem. As a result, there is a significant difference in the amount of time it takes, the need for anesthesia and the equipment utilized. Very few tests allow for an accurate prediction of whether or not sperm will be found in the testes of men with testicular problems.

Men with azoospermia can father a child through intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection if sperm can be retrieved from their epididymis or testis. Several percutaneous and open surgical procedures have been described to retrieve sperm. The various techniques and their merits are discussed in this review. In men with obstructive azoospermia, epididymal sperm can usually be retrieved by percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration PESA. In men with non-obstructive azoospermia, there will be no sperm in the epididymis and testicular sperm retrieval is required.

Testicular biopsy and aspiration refers to specialised sperm-extraction techniques for the treatment of severe cases of male-factor infertility. Depending on the diagnosis, your treating specialist may suggest one of the techniques below. This section gives you a detailed explanation of these male-specific treatments.

We sought to evaluate the ability of fine-needle aspiration FNA mapping to find sperm and to guide sperm retrieval after failed microdissection testicular sperm extraction micro-TESE in nonobstructive azoospermic men. In this study of consecutive male infertility cases, interventions included testicular FNA mapping and subsequent sperm retrieval. Outcomes included the frequency and location of found sperm on FNA maps after failed micro-TESE and the salvage sperm retrieval success.