Testicular biopsies in 101 cases of varicocele

Testicular biopsies were done on 101 patients who underwent ligation of the internal spermatic vein as primary treatment for infertility. Retrospective analysis included evaluation of tubular thickening, Leydig cell hyperplasia, premature sloughing, maturation arrest and decreased spermatogenesis. A comparison was made of biopsy profiles, sperm counts and pregnancies in an attempt to determine further the value of testicular biopsy in the subfertile man. The pregnancy rate was 40 per cent over-all, with 32 per cent of the patients with tubular thickening reporting pregnancies. There was only 1 pregnancy in patients with Leydig cell hyperplasia. The controversial finding of premature sloughing had no consistent relationship to results.