Testicular Sperm Aspiration
What is a testicular sperm extraction?
Microscopic testicular sperm extraction (microTESE) is a procedure that takes sperm directly from the testicular tissue of a man’s reproductive system. If a man can’t release or make enough healthy sperm naturally, this medical procedure may be recommended for fertility reasons (to enable the man to father a child). The testicular tissue is found in the two testes, where the sperm is made. The testes are found inside the scrotum, the small sac behind and under the penis.
The goals of the microTESE procedure are to:
- Obtain the best quality sperm.
- Get enough sperm to fertilize an egg from a woman.
- Minimize damage to the reproductive organs.
What will the infertility tests determine?
Semen analysis will give the doctor necessary information to help assess fertility and create a treatment plan. The tests should show some of the following:
- Amount of semen: At least 1.5 milliliters is considered normal. A lower number may mean that there is an internal issue with a part of the reproductive system, such as the seminal vesicles or a prostate gland, blocking the release of semen.
- Sperm count: Fifteen million to 300 million per milliliter is considered a normal range. Below 15 million is abnormal.
- Morphology: The size and shape of the sperm. Four percent of normal-shaped sperm (using the “strict” criteria) is ideal to be able to fertilize an egg. Some doctors consider even a lower percentage as normal.
- Motility: The movement of the sperm. Approximately 40% of sperm should be moving. The quality of movement is graded from 0 to 4, with a score over 3 considered good.