What is the incidence of varicocele in a fertile population?
One hundred men with proven fertility who presented for vasectomy consultation were examined for testicular size and presence of a varicocele, including examination with the Doppler stethoscope for the presence of subclinical varicocele. A diagnosis of varicocele was established in 61%. In 17 patients, the varicocele was evident clinically, whereas in 44 patients it was subclinical (8 bilateral). There was a discrepancy in testicular size in 22 patients, but this group included 8 men without varicoceles and 7 with subclinical varicoceles. It is apparent that varicoceles, especially subclinical varicoceles, are an extremely common finding, even in a group of fertile men. The results suggest that subclinical varicoceles have no role in male infertility.
D000328:Adult; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014646:Varicocele / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014659:Vasectomy