Surgical Sperm Retrieval is a technique for collecting sperm directly from a man’s testicles or epididymis. It is a procedure carried out under local anaesthetic and/or with sedation. The fertility team may use different methods of SSR depending on your hormone levels and testicular size.
Azoospermia is a condition in which there’s no measurable sperm in a man’s semen. Sometimes the cause of azoospermia is down to genetics. However it can also occur as a result of sexually transmitted infections, blockages along the reproductive tract, hormonal problems, ejaculation problems or issues with testicular structure or function. Sometimes, the causes are treatable and fertility can be restored.
There is no evidence to show that collecting sperm surgically poses a risk to the health and wellbeing of any children conceived with it. Research has shown that sperm extracted surgically may not fertilise as well, although this could be due to the fact that some sperm is of lower quality.
