Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration (PESA) is a medical procedure used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) to obtain sperm directly from the epididymis, which is a small, coiled tube located on the back of each testicle. The epididymis is where sperm mature and are stored before ejaculation.
This procedure is typically employed when a male is unable to naturally release sperm during ejaculation due to conditions such as obstructive azoospermia or retrograde ejaculation.
The stored sperm can be used in conjunction with the female partner’s eggs in various ART procedures. The most common methods include in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).