Surgical Sperm Retrieval

Surgical Sperm Retrieval

Specialist fertility treatment to help men who do not have any sperm in their ejaculate.

If you are not producing any sperm in your semen - a condition known as azoospermia - we can try and extract viable sperm surgically through Surgical Sperm Retrieval (SSR), so you can try for a baby.

Azoospermia is more common than you might think and at Manchester Fertility we are highly skilled at performing SSR to help men become fathers.

Surgical Sperm Retrieval may be advised to overcome different causes of azoospermia, such as:

  • A blockage in the tubes that transport sperm
  • A previous vasectomy/failed vasectomy reversal
  • Retrograde ejaculation
  • Very low or no sperm production

Male fertility expertise

Having azoospermia does not mean you are unable to be a father. Many cases of male factor infertility can be overcome, even when it is more complicated and may require surgical intervention. 

You will be seen by one of our consultants who specialise in male infertility and reproductive issues.

We will advise which SSR technique is appropriate for you, to ensure we have the highest chance of retrieving viable sperm for fertility treatment.

Male fertility expertise

SSR: What happens?

SSR is performed by our consultant urologists as a day case procedure. The surgery and type of technique used will depend upon your diagnosis and whether any reconstruction is needed.

Retrieved sperm is frozen and examined for viability before fertility treatment starts. If viable sperm is found it is used in IVF with ICSI – where the sperm is injected directly into the egg - to maximise chances of fertilisation.

SSR: What happens?

Learning Centre

Learn more about IVF, ICSI and your fertility in our Learning Centre. Browse our blogs, read through FAQs, our Guide for Men or ask us a question via our free Ask the Expert tool.

Learning Centre
Learning Centre

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