The ultrasound diagnosis and clinical significance of varicocele.
A study was carried out to determine the relationship between clinically diagnosed and ultrasound-diagnosed varicoceles in 151 men with normal and abnormal semen analysis. In only 60 cases (40%) was the clinical diagnosis confirmed by ultrasound. Of the men with ultrasound-diagnosed varicocele, 14% were found to have a normal semen analysis compared to 31% of men without a varicocele, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Bilateral varicoceles were associated with an even greater chance of having an abnormal semen analysis (p < 0.01), and with a significantly (p 0.05) decreased chance of spontaneous pregnancy. These men and also men with unilateral varicocele, whose partners have a relative cause of female subfertility, may benefit from earlier intervention for the treatment of their subfertility.
Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London, UK.
P
P
Curtis
O A
OA
Nicholas
L
L
Berger
R W
RW
Shaw
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*