Microsurgical Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (MESA)
This method is used for men who have an epididymal obstruction preventing the sperm from moving, as well as for men who have undergone a vasectomy or who have CBAVD. During MESA, an incision is made in the scrotum while under local anesthesia. The fluid is then aspirated from the epididymis and analyzed under the microscope for sperm cells. This method can be advantageous in cases of OA, as it can retrieve a large amount of high quality, motile sperm cells. These retrieved cells will usually be frozen for future use.