Testicular Biopsies of Azoospermic Men at The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the histological findings from testicular biopsies in azoospermic men seen at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja - Lagos, Nigeria.
Patients and Methods: A retrospective study of testicular biopsies of azoospermic men who presented to our institution from 2005 to 2006 was performed. The patient’s age, type of infertility and histopathological diagnosis were evaluted. All biopsies were preserved in 10% formaldehyde
solution.
Results: Of the 51 azoospermic men (mean age 30 years, range 25 – 46 years) 25 (49.0%) had primary infertility, 11 (21.6%) had secondary infertility and 15 (29.0%) were not specified. Five (9.8%) patients had normal spermatogenesis. Abnormal histological parameters occurred in 46 (90.2%) patients: testicular atrophy in 30 (58.8%), maturation arrest in 14 (27.5%) and hypospermatogenesis in 2 (3.9%) patients.
Conclusion: The presence of normal spermatogenesis in azoospermic men, which would suggest an obstructive lesion, is not common in our practice, in contrast to previous studies from our country. This may indicate a changing pattern in the aetiology of male infertility in our environment. Identification of the possible causes of testicular damage resulting in non-obstructive azoospermia in our environment may help to prevent male infertility.

Key Words: Azoospermia, etiology, diagnosis, testicular biopsies, histopathology, infertility, environment