{"id":39526,"date":"2025-06-23T12:58:08","date_gmt":"2025-06-23T10:58:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/what-is-the-testicular-biopsy-in-assisted-reproduction\/"},"modified":"2025-06-23T12:58:08","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T10:58:08","slug":"testicular-biopsy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/testicular-biopsy\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the testicular biopsy in assisted reproduction?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The testicular biopsy is one of the surgical procedures that we perform at URE Centro Gutenberg on males whose semen samples from ejaculate\u00a0<strong>do not contain spermatozoids<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>With this in mind, and as you may imagine, the purpose of this procedure is to obtain spermatozoids to be\u00a0<strong>used for in vitro fertilisation with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-icsi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ICSI<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0regardless of whether the fresh sample will be used, or rather frozen to be used at some point in the future.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Tabla de contenidos<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #3f3f3f;color:#3f3f3f\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #3f3f3f;color:#3f3f3f\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/testicular-biopsy\/#What_does_the_testicular_biopsy_involve\" >What does the testicular biopsy involve?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/testicular-biopsy\/#When_is_a_testicular_biopsy_recommended\" >When is a testicular biopsy recommended?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/testicular-biopsy\/#What_risks_are_associated_with_the_testicular_biopsy\" >What risks are associated with the testicular biopsy?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_the_testicular_biopsy_involve\"><\/span>What does the testicular biopsy involve?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The testicular biopsy is a\u00a0<strong>simple surgical intervention\u00a0<\/strong>that is performed in the operating theatre using local or general anaesthesia. The procedure takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes.<\/p>\n<p>The technique is carried out by making a small incision through the skin of the scrotum. Once the surgeon has reached the testicle, generally the right one, a small sample of testicular tissue is extracted. This sample is immediately evaluated under a microscope in order to\u00a0<strong>confirm the presence of spermatozoids, as well as their motility<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>As we were saying before, the spermatozoids that are retrieved\u00a0<strong>can be used while fresh in a cycle of<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/in-vitro-fertilisation-icsi-spain\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u00a0IVF\/ICSI<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0the same day the eggs are collected. This is known as a synchronous testicular biopsy. It is also possible to freeze the sample and use it in the future, known as asynchronous testicular biopsy.<\/p>\n<p>In the event that no spermatozoids are found, the biopsy is performed on the other testicle during the same surgery. Additionally, part of the sample can be used to run an<strong>\u00a0anatomic pathology study\u00a0<\/strong>to help\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/what-is-study-male-fertility\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">provide the patient with a diagnosis<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The testicular biopsy is an outpatient procedure, meaning the patient will be able to go home the same day and will be advised to\u00a0<strong>remain relatively relaxed for the next 2 to 3 days<\/strong>. The incision site sutures will fall off on their own or can be removed after about 15 days.<\/p>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-3675 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/fertilityclinicspain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/biopsia-testicular.png\" sizes=\"(max-width: 936px) 100vw, 936px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/fertilityclinicspain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/biopsia-testicular.png 936w, https:\/\/fertilityclinicspain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/biopsia-testicular-300x197.png 300w, https:\/\/fertilityclinicspain.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/biopsia-testicular-768x505.png 768w\" alt=\"testicular biopsy\" width=\"936\" height=\"616\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_is_a_testicular_biopsy_recommended\"><\/span>When is a testicular biopsy recommended?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>In assisted reproduction this procedure is indicated when we need to study patients with an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/azoospermia-and-assisted-reproduction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">azoospermia diagnosis<\/a>. In other words, when no spermatozoids are found in the semen from ejaculate, this procedure is requested to help\u00a0<strong>confirm secretory azoospermia or obstructive azoospermia<\/strong>. It is also possible to utilise this procedure in some cases where there is an extremely low number of spermatozoids in the ejaculate, a condition referred to as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/how-to-interpret-a-sperm-analysis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cryptozoospermia.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Aside from these cases, testicular biopsies are also performed on\u00a0<strong>males who have previously undergone a\u00a0vasectomy<\/strong>\u00a0(surgical tying of the vas deferens), and who now wish to have more children, as well as on males who have trouble ejaculating due to physical or psychological issues.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_risks_are_associated_with_the_testicular_biopsy\"><\/span>What risks are associated with the testicular biopsy?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As with any medical intervention this procedure is not risk free, though the associated risks\u00a0<strong>tend to occur very infrequently<\/strong>. \u00a0The most common risks are local haematoma, infection and\/or inflammation of the testicle, epididymis or scrotum, allergic reaction to the medication or sutures used, etc.<\/p>\n<p>Patients must always be aware that it is possible that no spermatozoids will be found in the testicular tissue that has been biopsied. In these cases, the alternative is to use sperm from a donor sperm bank. At URE Centro Gutenberg this potential outcome is always discussed with the patients before performing the testicular biopsy\u00a0<strong>so that the couple is fully informed ahead of time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>We hope we have helped you to know what this small intervention\u00a0<strong>at URE Centro Gutenberg is.<\/strong>\u00a0As always, we\u2019re here to answer any questions you may have and to assist you with anything else you may need.<\/p>\n<p>You can request an appointment with our assisted reproduction specialists or send your question\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>by clicking here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The testicular biopsy is one of the surgical procedures that we perform at URE Centro Gutenberg on males whose semen samples from ejaculate\u00a0do not contain spermatozoids. With this in mind, and as you may imagine, the purpose of this procedure is to obtain spermatozoids to be\u00a0used for in vitro fertilisation with\u00a0ICSI\u00a0regardless of whether the fresh [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":34351,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[499],"tags":[512,504,605,529,543,550,542,518,508,502,513,541,535,515,606,607,516,505],"class_list":["post-39526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-assisted-reproduction-treatments-and-techniques","tag-assisted-reproduction-clinic-in-malaga","tag-assisted-reproduction-techniques","tag-azoospermia-en","tag-causes-of-infertility","tag-centro-gutenberg-en","tag-centro-gutenberg-malaga-en","tag-clinic-gutenberg-en","tag-fertility-clinic","tag-fertility-clinic-in-malaga","tag-fertility-treatments","tag-fertility-treatments-in-malaga","tag-infertility","tag-reproduction-unit-gutenberg-centre","tag-reproductive-treatments","tag-testicular-biopsy","tag-testicular-biopsy-at-the-ure-gutenberg-centre","tag-ure-en","tag-ure-centro-gutenberg-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39526"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39526\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39529,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39526\/revisions\/39529"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34351"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/urecentrogutenberg.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}