Predictors of sperm retrieval with micro TESE, A narrativereview article

Regarding the financial and psychological effects of micro-TESE on patients with NOA, it is im-portant to determine the parameters by which the sperm retrieval with micro-TESE can be predicted.

The key words used for conducting a search in the PubMed database included nonobstructive azoospermia andTESE. The abstracts of the articles were reviewed, and the articles which reported the parameters’ influence onsperm retrieval with micro TESE were included. All non-English papers, case reports, and case series, were ex-cluded from the review. Eventually, 25 articles were selected to be included.

It is recommended thatdiagnostic test is biopsy should be performed at the time of micro-TESE. The histopathology of testis, testic-ular volume, hormone profile, aging, and genetic factors, are parameters that might influence the results ofsperm retrieval with micro-TESE. Heterogeneous histopathological pattern and report of hypospermatogenesison pathology, lower serum FSH level, normal testis volume, and varicocelectomy, increase the chance of spermretrieval with micro-TESE. In terms of sperm retrieval, some genetic factors such as AZFa, AZFb, and chromo-some Y micro deletion provide poor prognosis.

Testis histopathology is the most important factorwhich predicts sperm retrieval with micro-TESE. Other factors that influence the sperm retrieval rate are testisvolume, genetic factor, serum FSH level, and history of varicocelectomy.