Percutaneous varicocele embolization in the treatment of infertility.
Clinical and sub-clinical varicoceles are associated with infertility and abnormal sperm parameters. Percutaneous embolization is a minimally invasive, safe, outpatient method of treatment which is cost effective in comparison to surgery. This study is a retrospective review of embolization of the spermatic vein using stainless steel occluding spring coils, performed in 116 males from two infertility clinics. Follow-up results were complete in 87 patients of which 79 (91%) were successful both technically and clinically and all had sperm analysis performed both before and within 2 years after embolization. There was a highly significant increase in motility (mean 35% before, mean 46% after, p < 0.001). Sperm density showed a trend towards improvement, but only p < 0.10, and there was no significant change in semen volume or morphology. The partners of 29 men (33%) became pregnant in a total of 241 years of follow-up.
Ferguson
J M
JM
Department of Radiology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, UK.
Gillespie
I N
IN
Chalmers
N
N
Elton
R A
RA
Hargreave
T B
TB
D000328:Adult; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*