The interest of testicular biopsy in the study of male infertility.

After this brief summary of the indications for testicular biopsies, it is clear that we often use this technique willingly together with normal andrological examinations. We justify this operation above all not only because in a large number of cases we have been able to arrive at a therapeutical solution, but also for two other reasons. The first is that all andrological treatment, if it is to be of any use to the patient, will be so only after a very long period of time. If testicular insufficiency could be shown to exist by means of a quicker test method, then biopsies would be useless. But the investment of time, money and hope by patients undergoing andrological therapy is by definition so long that it is indispensible to know if therapeutical action is justified. And the second reason for which we defend testicular biopsy is our unshakable belief that the patient who consults a specialist for sterility must be given a formal diagnosis, even when he cannot be helped, so that he can take necessary decision regarding his life as soon as possible. The decision might be for adoption, or for artificial insemination by donor, when he knows quite definitely that his sterility is irreversible. These are very important decision, and are a complete justification for the use of such a simple procedure, which requires such little time, both on the part of the patient and of the doctor.