The Diagnosis of Unilateral Testicular Obstruction in Subfertile Males

Abstract

Thirty-two subfertile males with sperms in the ejaculate and unilateral testicular obstruction are reported: the diagnosis was established by exploration of scrotum in 26, clinically in 2, 3 had had previous partially successful epididymovasostomies, and 1 had had an epispadias repair. The past medical history gave relevant information in 27 (84%), and useful findings were made on clinical examination in a further 3 cases. Fifteen patients had sperm counts over 20 million per ml, and 15 were less than 10 million per ml. Twenty-six (81%) had serum antisperm antibodies detected by tray agglutination test (TAT), 21 (81%) of whom had evidence of head-to-head (HH) agglutinins in pure or mixed form. Comparison with 162 vasectomised males and 160 naturally infertile males with antisperm antibodies showed that 55% of the former and 24% of the latter had HH agglutinins on TAT, differences that were highly significant on statistical analysis. Evidence of obstruction was found in 14 (37%) of 38 naturally infertile males with antisperm antibodies and HH or mixed agglutination, but only in 12 (10%) of 122 with TT agglutinins: this difference was also highly significant. Clinical history, physical examination and serum antisperm antibodies, especially if HH agglutinins are present, can suggest the possibility of unilateral testicular obstruction, but confirmation of the diagnosis requires exploration of scrotum.