Specialists in Surgical Sperm Retrieval
The team at Waterstone Clinic are specialists in male fertility treatment. We are proud to have established the first MicroTESE service in Ireland.
There are three types of surgical sperm retrieval. We perform TESE and PESA at our clinic and partner with Blackrock Clinic to provide MicroTESE.
Surgical Sperm Retrieval assists men with no sperm in the ejaculate (azoospermia) by taking sperm directly from the testis. This may be required due to non-obstructive reasons such as genetic causes, testicular failure, or varicocele, or obstructive reasons such as a vasectomy, an absent vas deferens, spinal injuries, or where there is an issue with normal ejaculation.
Types of Surgical Sperm Retrieval
PESA: To perform Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA), the Consultant Specialist will insert a fine needle through the skin of the scrotum to aspirate the sperm from the epididymis. The procedure is performed in the Clinic under sedation and local anaesthesia.
TESE: To perform Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE), the Consultant Specialist will make a small incision in the scrotum and testis to take a testicular tissue biopsy. The embryologist carefully examines the tissue under the microscope. Motile sperm is extracted which can then be frozen or used immediately in an ICSI cycle. The procedure is performed in the Clinic under sedation and local anaesthesia.
MicroTESE: Microsurgical Testicular Sperm Extraction (Micro-TESE) is an advanced procedure. Waterstone Clinic works with Dr Ivor Cullen, a Consultant Urologist and Andrologist, to provide this service. The Consultant Urologist dissects the tiny tubes within the testicle, as they are likely to contain sperm. The embryologist carefully examines the tissue under a high-powered microscope and separates the healthy and unhealthy tissue. Viable sperm is retrieved, prepared, and frozen for use in a subsequent ICSI cycle. The procedure is performed at Blackrock Clinic under sedation and anaesthesia.
The Process
Step by Step
Preparation: All Surgical Sperm Retrieval procedures are carried out under sedation and anaesthesia.
Procedurel: The Consultant Specialist will carry out the surgical sperm retrieval procedure and extract sperm or tissue for examination.
Examination: The embryologist will examine the sample taken under the microscope and extract viable and motile sperm.
Sperm Preparation: The embryologist will prepare the sperm for either immediate use or freezing for use in an ICSI treatment cycle.
Why Use ICSI?
Following surgical sperm retrieval, we recommend that patients use an ICSI cycle for their treatment. The sperm retrieved generally has a low count and low motility, so ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) treatment maximises the chance of fertilisation and successful treatment.