Diurnal variations in scrotal temperature of normal men and patients with varicocele before and after treatment.
Scrotal temperature was monitored using a portable data recorder for periods of 24 h in six normal volunteers and 48 infertile patients with unilateral varicocele while subjects pursued their regular daily activities. Temperatures during sleep (TS) were generally higher than daytime values (TD), probably as a consequence of thermal insulation in bed. These diurnal variations were found to be less pronounced in the infertile patients than in volunteers (TS - TD = 0.29 degrees C +/- 0.06 degrees C vs 0.88 degrees C +/- 0.12 degrees C; P < 0.01). Moreover, scrotal temperatures at night of patients and volunteers were indistinguishable statistically, but were different during daytime hours. After successful ligation or embolization of the spermatic-vein in 16 patients, no change in scrotal temperature was observed. Although sperm counts were higher after treatment, this difference was not significant (67.4 +/- 17.2 x 10(6) vs 105.8 +/- 25.5 x 10(6); P > 0.05). The data support the view that varicocele-related damage to the testis results from a lack of adequate cooling, and that treatment does not normalize the temperature pattern.
Lerchl
A
A
Institute of Reproductive Medicine of the University, Münster, Germany.
Keck
C
C
Spiteri-Grech
J
J
Nieschlag
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001831:Body Temperature; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012611:Scrotum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery