TESE

In some circumstances, a man’s ejaculate may contain very few healthy sperm or even no healthy sperm at all. This is referred to as azoospermia or oligospermia/cryptozoospermia. Reasons for this include:

• An inoperable blockage, lack of or severing of the vas deferens

• An extremely reduced sperm production or no sperm production at all – for example, caused by genetic defects, environmental toxins, infections, an undescended testicle during childhood that was treated too late or by varicose veins of the testes

Furthermore, it may be the case that a man cannot ejaculate, due to a tumour or paraplegia for example. In such cases, pregnancy by natural means is usually not possible.

Sperm retrieval via TESE treatment

In cases like these, however, there are often still sperm capable of fertilisation in the man’s epididymides or testes. A doctor can retrieve these during a minor surgical procedure. To do this,  testicular sperm extraction (TESE) can be used.

TESE

If sperm are not produced at all or are not produced correctly, it is possible that there may be a few sperm in the testicles. These can be retrieved via testicular sperm extraction (TESE). In this procedure, the sperm are released directly from the individual pieces of tissue of the testicle.

TESE, also known as testicular biopsy or testicular aspiration, is performed under general anaesthetic. In this procedure, the doctor uses a thin biopsy needle to remove small tissue samples from several places in one or both testicles. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and takes around ten minutes. If necessary, the operation can be repeated.

What are the chances of finding sperm with TESE treatment?

TESE is very successful procedures. Doctors find functioning sperm in 75% of cases. However, the likelihood of success is largely determined by the underlying disorder or causes of the lack of sperm in the ejaculate. Various examinations of the partner (hormone analyses, genetic studies, etc.) can often be performed before the procedure to enable a good prediction of the prognosis and the resulting chance of pregnancy.

Risks and side effects of TESE treatment

Just as with any operation performed under anaesthesia, there are certain risks involved with TESE, which the treating doctor will explain individually. In rare cases, postoperative bleeding, bruising, swelling of the scrotum or an infection of the epididymis may occur after the operation. Therefore, it is advisable to rest for around five days after the surgery and not to shower until the next day at the earliest. It is also advisable to avoid bathing or using a sauna for around two weeks after the operation.

What happens to the sperm retrieved through TESE treatment?

The sperm or testicle samples retrieved through TESE treatment are immediately prepared and examined in the laboratory. If sperm are found, they are generally initially frozen in liquid nitrogen (cryopreservation).

The amount of sperm retrieved through TESE treatment is usually rather low and the retrieved sperm are not capable of independent fertilisation (e.g. by insemination in the uterine cavity). For this reason, the partner’s eggs are always fertilised using an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Do health insurance companies pay for any of the costs of TESE treatment?

The extent to which health insurance companies cover the costs depends on the country. Our doctors will gladly advise you of your options.