The diagnostic and prognostic significance of the testicular biopsy

The authors present the histological features of the testes in 1,609 cases of male sterility. In 485 cases (30.1%), histological changes were found, which did not warrant treatment. The histologic pattern of the testes was normal in only 39% of the cases of azoospermia; and only these patients were qualified for surgery, consisting of vasoepididymoanastomosis. Degenerative changes in the seminiferous tubules were observed in the patients with azoospermia, oligozoospermia and varicocele in 39.9%, 25.8% and 17.2% of cases, respectively.