Sperm retrieval
Sperm retrieval is a procedure that treats cases of azoospermia, that is, when the semen analysis confirms the absence of sperm in the semen. There are 5 sperm retrieval methods and two distinct causes of azoospermia:
Obstructive azoospermia is when sperm are produced, but they do not reach ejaculation. The causes may be retrograde ejaculation or the existence of an obstruction in the testicles or epididymides (a small duct located in the reproductive organ where the sperm produced by the testicles are stored), resulting, for example, from an infection. In these cases, the PESA and MESA methods are used to extract sperm from the epididymides and subsequently perform IVF/ICSI.
Non-obstructive azoospermia is a somewhat more delicate case. In this condition, there is no sperm production. The main causes are problems in the production of the hormones testosterone, LH (which activates testosterone production), and FSH (the hormone that initiates sperm production). Treatment involves administering these hormones to the patient, and the TESA, TESE, and micro-TESE methods are used to extract sperm directly from the testicles in different ways.
Let’s better understand each of these methods below:
