Sperm Mapping

Sperm mapping, also known as testicular sperm mapping or Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) mapping is a non-surgical procedure to trace sperm location and sperm count in the testicles of men who have non-obstructive azoospermia, a condition where the man has no sperm in their semen. Sperm mapping can determine whether there is sperm in the testis, where it is located, and how much is present.
Sperm mapping can help infertile men father children with assisted reproduction techniques.

Procedure:

The minimally invasive procedure is usually performed in the doctor’s office on an outpatient basis. An injection of local anesthetic is given and the surgeon prepares the testicular area that will be aspirated. Multiple fine needle aspirations are taken throughout the area of the testes. The needle samples are sent to the lab and investigated for the presence, quality, and amount of sperm. A sperm map is then designed to show the precise locations of where to retrieve sperm for use with ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology) procedures such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to help the couple to conceive.

Advantages:

Some of the benefits over the traditional open testicular biopsy include:

• Less post-procedural pain and discomfort
• Incision-free technique
• Multiple areas are sampled offering more precise diagnostic results
• Minimal injury to the testicular tissues