Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE)
For conventional TESE, a random incision is made in the testis and a sample of tissue is removed and analyzed. After removing a section of these tubules, the tissue is examined and searched for sperm. When found, the sperm can either be frozen or used for immediate IVF.
While TESE can be used for males with OA, it is also utilized for those with NOA, in which case the success of the procedure is not guaranteed and is difficult to predict. However, it can also be utilized as a diagnostic tool in males with NOA. In these cases, the results of the conventional TESE procedure may serve as a step before continuing on to what is currently the most common, efficient, and recommended procedure, the micro-TESE.