Testicular biopsy is a special method for diagnosing male infertility, as well as a method for detecting malignant tumor etiology. During the procedure, the doctor may take tissue for further histological examination or obtain sperm for other alternative methods of conception. Today we will learn a lot of important and interesting information regarding such a procedure as testicular biopsy in men: price, preparation for manipulation, operation, possible complications. We will also find out what the patients themselves think about this diagnostic method.
When can it be carried out?
Testicular biopsy in men is done in the following situations:
- When diagnosed with azoospermia. This is a condition in which reproductive function is impaired. In this case, a biopsy helps to determine the cause of azoospermia.
- If a couple cannot conceive a child naturally and resorts to other methods.
- When a tumor in the male gonad is suspected.
Side effects
Sometimes there may benegative results after a procedure such as a testicular biopsy in men. The consequences are as follows:
- Pain.
- Edema.
- Accumulation of blood.
- Hematoma, bruise. No further action is required to correct the problem.
- Inflammatory process in the testicle or its epididymis. Infection usually occurs after an open biopsy. In this case, the doctor prescribes antibacterial treatment, as well as careful treatment of the wound with an antiseptic.
- Testicular atrophy. It is accompanied by a decrease in the size of the organ and its functional disorders. To prevent this negative consequence, the man must re-visit the andrologist and do an ultrasound of the scrotum. The patient should carry out these activities as soon as a problem is detected.
Testicular biopsy in men: preparation for the procedure
There are clear rules that must be observed for 3 months before the manipulation:
- Exclude any physical activity.
- Wear loose cotton underwear.
- Do not go to the bathhouse, sauna.
- Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
- Eat right.
If you follow these rules, then in the end the quality of the seminal fluid will be excellent and the couple will be able to have a he althy baby the first time.
For 4 days before the biopsy, the man should refrain from having sex or masturbation.
The day before the scheduled procedure, the patient must adhere to the followingrules:
- On the evening before the mini-surgery, do not eat after 8 pm.
- Exclude the use of carbonated water, as well as drinks containing caffeine.
- In the morning of the appointed day, the man must shave his scrotum. Do not do this in advance so that irritation does not appear.
- If a man is taking any medication, he must notify the doctor about it.
Preliminary testing
Before performing a manipulation called a testicular biopsy in men, the doctor must refer the patient to such studies as:
- Smear from the urethra.
- Coagulogram.
- Testing for syphilis, hepatitis, HIV.
- Electrocardiogram.
- Complete blood count.
- Determining the Rh factor and blood type.
All these tests can be completed in one day. If, according to the results of preliminary studies, any diseases are revealed, then at first it will be necessary to undergo appropriate treatment, and then to take the material.
Types of manipulation
Open biopsy. Used for diagnostic purposes.
Puncture biopsy. It is carried out both for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
How is an open biopsy done?
This mini-operation is carried out in stationary conditions. The man is under local or general anesthesia during the manipulation:
- the surgeon makes an incision in the skin and then in the white of the testicle;
- cuts a small pieceorgan;
- sutures the incision with a cosmetic suture.
Duration of manipulation from 10 to 20 minutes. A man on the same day can go home. There he should not have sex for 2 days, and also not load his body physically. So the person will minimize the risk of injury after surgery.
Open biopsy is performed in 3 ways:
- TESE is an operation in which wedge-shaped areas of testicular tissue are removed.
- Micro TESE - when the scrotum is opened, the testicle is exposed and under the microscope the doctor determines the appropriate channels in which the spermatozoa should be.
- MESA - the specialist isolates a large canal of the epididymis, and then aspirates its contents.
How is a needle biopsy done?
Manipulation is performed under local anesthesia, as well as ultrasound control. It is performed as follows:
- surgeon pierces testicle;
- sperm collection in progress.
Puncture testicular biopsy in men has 2 ways to insert the needle:
- TESA - when semen is taken from the testicle.
- PESA - when material is removed from an appendage.
Which is better: open or needle biopsy?
In the first case, special equipment is required. In the second option, a mini-operation can be carried out even in the dressing room.
The downside of a needle biopsy is thatthe fact that the material is taken blindly. And this can lead to damage to blood vessels, the appearance of hematomas.
Open biopsy is performed only in stationary conditions. But the advantage of conducting such a study is to minimize the risk of complications.
Behavior after manipulation
When a procedure such as a testicular biopsy in men is performed, the doctor must definitely advise the patient on how he should behave after the mini-surgery, namely:
- Be sure to take your doctor's prescribed medications.
- Wear natural underwear.
- Keep the scrotum elevated.
- Don't forget to treat the wound with iodine.
- Do not drive on the first day after the biopsy.
- Do not shower or bathe for 3 days after treatment.
Ratings
Such a procedure as a testicular biopsy in men receives positive feedback from representatives of the male half of humanity. True, the number of responses on the Internet is negligible. Men are not used to sharing their problems with other people, and even more so to describe the situation and feelings through the World Wide Web. But women do it for them. They learn about how the procedure went and then leave their messages on the forums. So, they note that it is better to carry out this manipulation under general anesthesia. If it is performed under local anesthesia, then the man will hear everything that happens onoperating table. Since the nervous system of guys is not as strong as that of girls, they can get very nervous, or start to interfere with the doctor by asking him inappropriate questions. And people are advised to do the procedure not in the summer. In hot weather, a person will feel discomfort in the postoperative period. This is confirmed by many men. The strong sex recommends, if possible, to postpone the manipulation for the spring-autumn or winter periods.
Testicular biopsy in men: the cost of the procedure
The cost of this sampling method varies and depends on several factors:
- Region, medical center where the mini-surgery will be performed.
- Type of surgery (open or needle biopsy).
- Method of manipulation (taking material from the testicle or from its epididymis).
- Method of anesthesia (general or local anesthesia).
Based on these criteria, the price for a procedure such as testicular biopsy in men is formed. The cost of manipulation ranges from 25,000-65,000 rubles. This price includes:
- Anesthesia.
- Fence collection.
- Comfortable stay in the clinic.
- Post-operative care.
To clarify the price, a person should contact the clinic where the biopsy will be done.
Sperm collection techniques
There are only two of them:
- Direct IVF implementation by ICSI method. The procedure is performed after egg retrieval from a woman.
- Preservationseminal fluid. Thanks to this technique, it is possible to keep the received spermatozoa alive and fertilize outside the IVF cycle. Moreover, frozen sperm retains its properties for 1 year.
Conclusion
In this article, you learned how to do a testicular biopsy in men, what methods are used for this. This method of sampling material must be done if there is a possibility of a malignant tumor. Also, a biopsy is performed on men to determine the quality of sperm and further chances of becoming a father. You should not be afraid of this procedure. If you do a biopsy from a qualified doctor, in a good clinic, then the risks of complications will be minimal.
