What type of oligospermia is associated with the possibility of sperm extraction from a testicular biopsy?

The correct answer indicates that oligospermia characterized by a sperm concentration of less than 10 million/mL may allow for sperm extraction through testicular biopsy. This is significant because men with very low sperm counts often have non-obstructive azoospermia, meaning that the issue lies with sperm production rather than a blockage in the reproductive tract.

When the sperm concentration is less than 10 million/mL, it suggests a critical shortage of sperm, which may be indicative of testicular dysfunction. However, even in these cases, sperm can potentially still be retrieved directly from the testes, as there may still be some viable sperm within the testicular tissue.

In contrast, concentrations below 5 million/mL are typically associated with advanced conditions that could reduce the chances of successful sperm retrieval further. A count of less than 15 million/mL indicates a broader range of oligospermia where testicular function may still be sufficient to allow for sperm extraction, but it does not specifically highlight the critical threshold recognized for retrieval feasibility as less than 10 million/mL does.

Overall, understanding these classifications is crucial for clinicians when determining the likelihood of successful sperm extraction for assisted reproductive technologies.