Overview

Testicular biopsy is surgery to remove a piece of tissue from the testicles. The tissue is examined under a microscope. The biopsy can be done in many ways. The type of biopsy you have depends on the reason for the test. Your health care provider will talk to you about your options.

Open biopsy may be done in the provider’s office, a surgical centre, or at a hospital. The skin over the testicle is cleaned with a germ-killing (antiseptic) medicine. The area around it is covered with a sterile towel. A local anaesthetic is given to numb the area.

A small surgical cut is made through the skin. A small piece of the testicle tissue is removed. The opening in the testicle is closed with a stitch. Another stitch closes the cut in the skin. The procedure is repeated for the other testicle if necessary.

Needle biopsy is most often done in the provider’s office. The area is cleaned and local anaesthesia is used, just as in the open biopsy. A sample of the testicle is taken using a special needle. The procedure does not require a cut in the skin.

Why Is The Test Used?

Depending on the reason for the test, a needle biopsy may not be possible or recommended.

The test is most often done to find the cause of male infertility. It is done when a semen analysis suggests that there is abnormal sperm and other tests have not found the cause. In some cases, sperm obtained from a testicular biopsy can be used to fertilize a woman’s egg in the lab. This process is called in vitro fertilization.