Insemination data on men with varicoceles.
OBJECTIVE
To determine possible benefits of sperm processing and intrauterine insemination (IUI) for a group of men with a varicocele history who had not achieved a pregnancy by natural coitus (mean duration of infertility 42.2 months).


METHODS
A retrospective study including infertile men with varicoceles who were classified by their semen analyses and sperm penetration assays (SPAs).


METHODS
Private practice of infertility.


METHODS
Seventy-one infertile couples. The husbands had a varicocele history and were grouped into four clinical categories (14 untreated, 5 medical treatment, 34 varicocelectomies, and 18 varicocelectomies plus medical treatment). The wives were studied or treated before IUI.


METHODS
Varicocelectomies were performed on the males when indicated. Female studies included laparoscopies as indicated intrauterine insemination with Tomcat catheter (Sherwood Medical, St. Louis, MO) was performed in all cases.


METHODS
Overall pregnancy rates (PRs) and fecundity rates with sperm processing and IUI.


RESULTS
Six pregnancies occurred with 66 cycles of sperm processing and IUI among 28 men with normal SPAs (PR 21%, fecundity rate = 0.09). In contrast, there were no pregnancies with 121 cycles among 43 varicocele patients with abnormal SPA results or with low values for all three semen parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Sperm processing and IUI may be beneficial for selected patients with varicoceles who had not achieved a pregnancy by coitus.
Marmar
J L
JL
Division of Urology, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Camden.
Corson
S L
SL
Batzer
F R
FR
Gocial
B
B
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007317:Insemination, Artificial, Homologous; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D014646:Varicocele / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy