Gynaecologist/ Obstetricians

Epididymal & Testicular Sperm retrieval techniques (PESA/MESA/TESA/TESE)

Epididymal and Testicular Sperm Retrieval Techniques refer to a group of minimally invasive surgical procedures used to extract sperm directly from the epididymis or testes. These techniques are often employed in cases of male infertility, where the man is unable to produce sperm through normal ejaculation.

The main techniques include:

• 1. PESA (Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration): This involves using a fine needle to aspirate sperm directly from the epididymis, the coiled tube at the back of the testes where sperm is stored.
• 2. MESA (Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration): This is a similar procedure to PESA, but is performed using a microscope to more precisely locate and extract sperm from the epididymis.
• 3. TESA (Testicular Sperm Aspiration): This technique involves using a needle to extract sperm directly from the testis.
• 4. TESE (Testicular Sperm Extraction): This is a more invasive procedure where a small piece of testicular tissue is surgically removed to extract sperm.

These techniques allow for the retrieval of sperm in cases of obstructive azoospermia (absence of sperm in the ejaculate due to a blockage) or non-obstructive azoospermia (absence of sperm due to testicular failure). The retrieved sperm can then be used in assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), to achieve pregnancy.