Updated June 10, 2015.

Definition:

Testicular sperm extraction (TESE) is a minor surgical procedure that involves the removal of a small sample of testicular tissue in order to retrieve sperm for use in an IVF treatment cycle.

A procedure used in some cases of male infertility, testicular sperm extraction may be used when a man does not have sperm in his ejaculate but does still produce sperm in the testes.