MESA/TESE

Epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA)

. If the absence of sperm cells (azospermia) is caused by obstruction of the epididymal ducts, sperms can be aspirated from epididymis (it is successful in more then 90% of cases).

. The advantage compared to TESE is, that in the most cases a relatively high percentage is more mature as far as the quality concerned, motile sperms are instantly available for the microinjection and/or they can be cryoconservated to be used later.

Testicular biopsy and testicular sperm extraction (TESE)

. In the case of azospermia (no sperms in the ejaculate), in the most cases many small fabric samples are removed from one or the both testicles.
Even in the case of a serious disorder of the sperm cell development (e.x. “sertoli-cell-only syndrome”), in about half of the cases a sufficient number of sperms can be extracted from the testicles for the following ICSI-treatment from the testicular fabric.