Surgical sperm retrieval (SSR) is a procedure used to obtain sperm from men who have a blockage or absence of the vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the urethra. This blockage can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic disorders, previous surgeries, or injury. SSR can also be used to retrieve sperm from men who have very low sperm counts or poor sperm motility.
There are several different techniques used for SSR, including:
- Testicular sperm extraction (TESE): This procedure involves removing a small sample of tissue from the testicles and searching for sperm in the tissue.
- Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA): This procedure involves using a needle to remove sperm from the epididymis, the coiled tube that sits on top of the testicles.
- Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA): This procedure involves making a small incision in the scrotum and using a microscope to remove sperm from the epididymis.
- Testicular sperm aspiration (TESA): Similar to TESE, but done with an aspiration needle instead of a surgical incision.
Once the sperm has been obtained, it can be used in assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to help a couple achieve pregnancy.
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