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Treatment

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  Testicular Biopsy
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Testicular biopsy

Testicular biopsy involves the removal of a small piece of testicular tissue to provide a sample for microscopic evaluation. Examination of tissue allows for evaluation of semineferous and interstitial Leydig cells (these are the cells that produce the hormone testosterone in the tissue surrounding the tubules where sperm is produced).

Normal biopsy results indicate that diminished sperm counts or absent sperm in the semen analysis is due to an obstruction or absence of ducts leading from the testicle to the prostate. Abnormalities in the tissue obtained at biopsy can indicate:
  • The absence of cells needed to produce sperm maturity 
  • Hypospermatogenesis (the production of abnormally low numbers of sperm) 
  • Germinal cell aplasia (lack of germ cells that enable sperm production) 
  • Evidence of previous testicular infection 
  • Abnormalities of Leydig cells


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Last Updated: 5/6/2008

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