A testicular biopsy (also called a testis biopsy) is an infertility testing procedure where a small sample of tissue from one or both testicles is removed and examined by a male fertility specialist under a microscope to evaluate a man's ability to father a child. A testicular biopsy may be performed to help determine the cause of male infertility, particularly in cases with azoospermia. A testis biopsy may be done if both of the following are present:
The man's semen does not have sperm (azoospermia)
Hormone test results are within the normal range
Note that a testicular biopsy is not usually used to detect testicular cancer.