TESE is a small operation that takes tissue from the testicle to look for sperm when none are found in the ejaculate. Any sperm recovered are used for ICSI, where a single sperm is injected into each egg, or frozen for later.
It offers a chance of biological fatherhood in azoospermia. Success depends on the cause: sperm are found in nearly all men with a blockage, but only in roughly 40 to 60 percent of men whose testicles produce very few sperm, and it cannot be known in advance for certain.
What Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE and Micro-TESE) involves
The work-up includes two semen analyses, hormone tests (FSH, LH, testosterone), a genetic screen with karyotype and Y chromosome microdeletion testing, and an examination. For conventional TESE the surgeon makes a small cut in the scrotum, opens the covering of the testicle and removes one or several small pieces of tissue. In micro-TESE the testicle is opened more widely and examined under an operating microscope at 15 to 25 times magnification, so that the fuller, more opaque tubules most likely to contain sperm can be picked out selectively. An embryologist checks the tissue in theatre and tells the surgeon when sperm have been found. The layers are closed with dissolving stitches.
Who is a good candidate for Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE and Micro-TESE)?
Suitable for men with no sperm in the ejaculate who want to try for a child with their own sperm.
- Obstructive azoospermia, for example after vasectomy, infection or congenital absence of the vas
- Non-obstructive azoospermia, where micro-TESE is the preferred method
- Klinefelter syndrome, in selected men after counselling
- Failure to produce or ejaculate sperm on the day of egg collection
Es ist normalerweise nicht die richtige Wahl, wenn:
- Complete AZFa or AZFb deletions of the Y chromosome, where the chance of finding sperm is practically nil
- Men whose azoospermia is caused by low pituitary hormones, who should have hormone treatment first
- Untreated testicular infection
- Couples who have not been counselled about a negative result and the alternatives
Technikoptionen
- TESA (needle aspiration): A needle draws tissue through the skin under local anaesthetic. Reasonable for obstructive cases.
- Conventional TESE: Open biopsy of one or more sites. Used for obstructive azoospermia or when a microscope is unavailable.
- Micro-TESE: Microscope-guided search. Finds sperm more often in non-obstructive azoospermia while removing less tissue.
- Fresh versus frozen use: Retrieval can be timed with the partner's egg collection, or sperm can be frozen beforehand so the cycle is only started if sperm exist.
Was passiert während Ihrer Behandlung
TESE takes 30 to 45 minutes; micro-TESE can take 1 to 3 hours because the search is meticulous. Micro-TESE is usually done under general anaesthetic, simpler retrievals under local with sedation. You go home the same day with a scrotal support.
Vorbereitung auf Ihre Reise
Plan for 4 to 7 days, longer if timed with ICSI in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.
- Stoppen Sie das Rauchen und Nikotin mindestens vier Wochen vor und nach der Operation; es ist die größte vermeidbare Ursache von Wundproblemen
- Erzählen Sie dem Team von allen Medikamenten und Ergänzungen, die Sie einnehmen; Blutverdünner, einige Kräuterprodukte und Hormonbehandlungen müssen möglicherweise auf Anraten Ihres Arztes unterbrochen werden
- Vereinbaren Sie, dass jemand mit Ihnen reist oder erreichbar ist, und halten Sie die ersten Tage zu Hause frei von Arbeit und Heben
- Buchen Sie einen veränderlichen Rückflug; Ihr Chirurg bestätigt, wenn Sie fit sind
Genesung und Ergebnisse
Expect aching and swelling for 3 to 7 days, controlled with simple painkillers, supportive underwear and ice packs. Desk work is possible after 2 to 3 days. Avoid heavy lifting, sport and sex for about 2 weeks. Testosterone can dip for a few months after an extensive search and is usually checked later. A repeat attempt, if needed, should wait at least 6 months.
- Zurück zur alltäglichen Aktivität: 3 bis 7 Tage
- When results show: Result known the same day
- How long they last: Frozen sperm can be stored for years
Sicherheit, Risiken und Revisionspolitik
Complications are uncommon and usually minor, but the main risk is emotional: no sperm may be found.
- No sperm retrieved, which happens in about half of non-obstructive cases
- Bruising or a collection of blood in the scrotum
- Wound infection
- Persistent testicular ache
- A fall in testosterone, occasionally needing long-term replacement
- Shrinkage of the testicle, rarely, after extensive or repeated surgery
Jeder schriftliche Vorschlag wird durch Clinic-Y gibt an, was die Klinik abdeckt, wenn eine Korrektur erforderlich ist. Fragen Sie danach, bevor Sie buchen, nicht danach.
Cost of Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE and Micro-TESE) in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE and Micro-TESE), because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- Needle, conventional or microscope-assisted technique
- General anaesthetic and theatre time
- Embryology work and sperm freezing with storage
- Genetic and hormone tests beforehand
- The linked ICSI cycle, which is priced separately
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Häufig gestellte Fragen
Can anything predict whether sperm will be found?
Hormone levels, testicle size and genetic results give a rough idea, and certain Y deletions rule it out. Otherwise there is no reliable test, including a prior diagnostic biopsy.
Are children born from surgically retrieved sperm healthy?
Available data are reassuring. If a genetic cause of infertility is found, it may be passed to sons, which is why genetic counselling is offered first.
What if no sperm are found?
The options are donor sperm, which is not permitted in Türkiye, adoption, or in some cases a repeat micro-TESE after 6 to 12 months. It helps to discuss this before surgery.
Does our marital status matter in Türkiye?
Yes. Turkish regulations allow assisted reproduction only for married couples using their own eggs and sperm.