Role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Testes in Azoospermia- A Prospective Observational Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND Male infertility is a common problem 1,2 that can be devastating for a couple to conceive. Studies reveal that 15%, 1-4 of all future marriages face the problem of infertility. The WHO has reported a global prevalence of 5% infertility in the mid 70s in a multicentric epidemiological study on infertility in various [1],[2] countries including India. In approximately 30% of cases, significant abnormalities are found in the man alone. In another 20% of the cases, abnormalities are found in both men and women. Thus, in roughly 50% of infertile couples, the male factor is partially responsible for the infertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS A study of semen analysis-FNAC testis and testicular biopsy was done in 43 azoospermic males. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the features of testicular FNAC at cellular level (cytologically) in azoospermic males and to study the correlation between cytological and histological diagnosis. The need for bilateral FNAC was also evaluated. In FNAC, the most common diagnosis was maturation arrest (47%). For evaluating the spermatogenic activity in male infertility, it appears that a unilateral FNAC or biopsy is sufficient for diagnosis.