Testicular Biopsy

A testicular biopsy is a test to remove a small sample of tissue from one or both testicles and examine it under a microscope to evaluate a man's ability to father a child.

The testicles  (testes) are oval-shaped glands that hang in the scrotum beneath the base of the penis. The testicles produce sperm  (necessary for reproduction) and male hormones, such as testosterone.

Why It Is Done

A testicular biopsy may, on rare occasions, be done to help determine the cause of male infertility. Testicular biopsy may be done if both of the following are present:

• The semen does not have sperm.
• Hormone test results are within the normal range.
• Testicular biopsy may also be done to retrieve sperm for in vitro fertilization for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI).
• Testicular biopsy is not usually used to detect testicular cancer. When cancer is suspected, an open surgical procedure (orchiectomy) is done to confirm the diagnosis.
• This biopsy is done by a surgeon  in our hospital who treats reproductive health problems in men in the doctor's office, a day surgery clinic.