Testicular Biopsy Unilateral Treatment in India

Olivia Joshi, a 32-year-old transgender woman,...

Olivia Joshi, a 32-year-old transgender woman, had been on feminizing hormone therapy for 18 months as part of her medical transition. While she was thrilled with most of the changes, she had recently noticed a small, firm, painless lump on her right testicle during a self-exam. This discovery triggered immense anxiety, as her family had a history of cancer. Her urologist, Dr. Chen, was empathetic and explained that while the lump was likely benign, given her hormonal history and family background, a unilateral testicular biopsy was the definitive way to rule out malignancy. Olivia was deeply fearful of the procedure, worrying about pain and the implications for her transition. The procedure itself, performed under local anesthesia, was a tense but manageable 30 minutes. The recovery involved a few days of soreness and ice packs. The biopsy results came back negative, showing only benign Leydig cell hyperplasia, a known effect of her estrogen therapy. The emotional relief was profound. Olivia moved from a state of high anxiety and fear of a major health setback to feeling empowered and secure in continuing her transition journey, with a renewed commitment to regular self-monitoring.