Effect of varicocelectomy on sperm parameters and pregnancy rate in patients with subclinical varicocele: a randomized prospective controlled study.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed whether subclinical varicocele ligation improves fertility and/or semen parameters.


METHODS
A total of 85 patients with a subclinical varicocele diagnosed by scrotal thermography presented with infertility. Patients were randomly assigned to groups 1 (high ligation of the internal spermatic vein) and 2 (followed without any treatment). At least 3 semen samples were obtained at study entry and 1 year later in both groups.


RESULTS
The pregnancy rate in group 1 was 6.7% compared to 10% in group 2, and the difference was not statistically significant. Group 1 had significantly higher levels of sperm density and total motile sperm count at 1 year. There were no significant differences between groups 1 and 2 regarding change in seminal volume, sperm motility and abnormal sperm morphology.


CONCLUSIONS
Subclinical varicocelectomy has some effect on spermatogenesis but no beneficial effect on pregnancy rate.
Yamamoto
M
M
Department of Urology, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Hibi
H
H
Hirata
Y
Y
Miyake
K
K
Ishigaki
T
T
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013081:Sperm Motility; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014646:Varicocele / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*