What is PESA / TESE?
PESA / TESE is a surgical sperm retrieval procedure used in fertility treatment for men who have no sperm in their ejaculate.
PESA (Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration) is the method of puncturing the skin of the testicles with a needle into the epididymis and extracting sperm.
TESE (Testicular Epididymal Sperm Extraction) is surgery performed to obtain a small piece of testicular tissue and separating the sperm in the testicular tissue.
Men who have no sperm in the ejaculate because of problems with sperm production, actually may have small pockets of sperm production within the testicle that can be used with IVF/ICSI to create a baby.
- They are minimally invasive techniques and sperm can be obtained from men with a variety of issues including:
- Vasectomy
- Failed vasectomy reversal
- An absence of the vas deferens
- Blockages anywhere along the seminal tract (obstructive azoospermia)
- Any problem arising from injury or infection.
Sperm retrieval is also able to help men with a very low sperm count (non-obstructive azoospermia) become fathers.