Male Infertility

Sperm Retrieval Procedures

There are several methods of sperm retrieval for men who have no sperm present in the ejaculate — for a condition known as azoospermia (zero sperm count). Several types of minimally invasive surgical procedures to extract sperm from the testicles are available. The specialists at the Men’s Reproductive and Sexual Health Program can help you understand the risks and benefits of each procedure and which one is right for you and your partner.

Some common procedures include:

Testicular Mapping – Also known as fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the testicle, testicular mapping is a non-surgical method of determining the extent of azoospermia and the presence of sperm.
Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA) – This minimally invasive approach uses a tiny needle passed into the epididymis to retrieve sperm. It is most often used with men with obstructive azoospermia, such as after a vasectomy.
Microsurgical Testicular Sperm Extraction (microTESE)
Testicular Sperm Aspiration (TESA)