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As more couples pursue families with the use of Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ART) such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) and Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), there is a need for obtaining sperm from men who are infertile. In some men, a semen analysis reveals that there are not any sperm in the ejaculate fluid. This condition is known as azoospermia. This can be a devastating set back for couples wishing to build their families. Some men with azoospermia will still have sperm in their testicles that does not reach the ejaculate fluid. This sperm, if retrieved, can still be used for ART. These men should be evaluated medically by a male infertility specialist to ensure there is no serious underlying medical cause for the absence of sperm in the ejaculate such as a genetic disorder, a hormonal problem, or other serious medical conditions. Men with azoospermia who undergo surgical sperm retrieval will have the best chance of success if the surgeon uses an operating microscope to retrieve the sperm. The surgeon uses the microscope to identify and harvest the healthiest part of the testicles which allows the best chance of finding sperm. Surgical harvesting of sperm using an operating microscope has proven to be superior to other methods of sperm retrieval as these structures are on the magnitude of millimeters in size.
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