Table 2.
Sperm retrieval techniques, acronyms and indications.
| Technique | Acronym | Indications |
| Percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration | PESA | Obstructive azoospermia |
| Microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration | MESA | Obstructive azoospermia |
| Open epididymal fine-needle aspiration | ND | Obstructive azoospermia |
| Percutaneous testicular sperm aspiration; percutaneous testicular fine-needle aspiration | TESA; TEFNA | Obstructive azoospermia; |
| Failed epididymal retrieval in OA cases; | ||
| Epididymal agenesis in CAVD cases; | ||
| Favorable testicular histopathology1 in NOA cases; | ||
| Previous successful TESA/TEFNA attempt in NOA cases | ||
| Testicular sperm extraction (single or multiple biopsies) | TESE | Obstructive azoospermia; |
| Failed epididymal retrieval in OA cases; | ||
| Failed TESA/TEFNA in OA cases; | ||
| Non-obstructive azoospermia | ||
| Single seminiferous tubule biopsy | ND | Obstructive azoospermia; |
| Failed epididymal retrieval in OA cases; | ||
| Failed TESA/TEFNA in OA cases; | ||
| Non-obstructive azoospermia | ||
| Microsurgical testicular sperm extraction | Micro-TESE | Non-obstructive azoospermia |
OA: obstructive azoospermia; NOA: non-obstructive azoospermia. CAVD: congenital absence of the vas deferens. ND: not defined. 1Hypospermatogenesis.