Relationship between the number of veins ligated in a varicocelectomy with testicular volume, hormonal levels and semen parameters outcome.
OBJECTIVE
Correlate semen analysis, hormones, and testicular volume with the number of veins ligated.


METHODS
Patients were divided into three groups: Group 1 (< or = 5 veins), Group 2 (6-10 veins), and Group 3 (> 10 veins). We evaluated testicular volume, hormonal levels, sperm concentration, and motility before and after the surgical procedure.


RESULTS
In Group 1, even though there was an improvement in both testicular volume and sperm concentration; testosterone levels and sperm motility did not improve with surgery. In Group 2, no changes were detected in the both testicular volumes, in sperm concentration, motility, and testosterone levels. In Group 3, an improvement was seen in the right testicle volume, testosterone levels, and sperm concentration. Follicle-stimulating hormone levels decreased following the surgical procedure in all groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with more than 10 ligated veins have better chances to improve sperm concentration. FSH levels decreased in all groups of patients.
Pasqualotto
Fábio Firmbach
FF
Divisão de Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade de Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil. fabio@conception-rs.com.br
Lucon
Antônio Marmo
AM
de Góes
Plínio Moreira
PM
Sobreiro
Bernardo Passos
BP
Hallak
Jorge
J
Pasqualotto
Eleonora Bedin
EB
Arap
Sami
S
D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000601:surgery*; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013737:Testis / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013739:Testosterone / Q000032:analysis; D014646:Varicocele / Q000601:surgery*; D014680:Veins / Q000601:surgery*
D013739:Testosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone