Diagnosis

During the diagnostic procedure different characteristics of the testicles can be examined. First of all a testicular atrophy can be palpable from the outside. It is also possible to measure the testicle.

Part of the physical examination may also be the examination of the rest of the body, in which signs of a possible liver cirrhosis can be recognized. In the next step the production of male sex hormones and sperm can be examined. This is done by blood analysis or microscopic examination of the male ejaculate.

Therapy

The therapy depends on the cause. If, for example, an inflammation or a circulatory disorder leads to testicular atrophy, this can be treated by means of antibiotic therapy or surgery, for example. The testicle can recover depending on the progression and severity of the inflammation or insufficient blood supply.

However, if part of the tissue is already so undersupplied that tissue death has occurred, this process cannot be reversed. The loss of the hormone-producing tissue can be counteracted by external supply of these hormones. The sperm synthesis cannot be influenced from the outside.

If the testicular tissue regenerates completely, sperm production can take place again. In the case of an anabolic supply, the testicular tissue can recover after the supply of anabolic steroids has ended. If a cure is possible, the duration depends on the severity of the testicular atrophy and the cause.For example, in the case of cirrhosis of the liver, it can take a long time to heal.

At a certain stage, it can only be treated by liver transplantation. The process can be very lengthy and so can the regression of the testicular atrophy. After stopping anabolic steroids it can also take several weeks or months until the body’s regulatory mechanisms have normalized.

Whether testicular atrophy is reversible depends on the underlying cause. For example, if there is a genetic defect, such as Klinefelter’s syndrome, testicular atrophy is not reversible. If a testosterone deficiency is the cause of the testicular atrophy, the testicular volume can return to normal when the hormone balance is balanced.

If the testicular tissue is damaged, for example, by inflammation or circulatory problems, the possibility of reversibility depends on the extent of the damage. However, if the testicular tissue was already so undersupplied that atrophy resulted, it can be assumed that some of the tissue-forming cells have died. This process is usually irreversible.