title: Relationship between the number of veins ligated in a varicocelectomy with testicular volume, hormonal levels and semen parameters outcome.
abstract: 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.
authors: Divisão de Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade de Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil. fabio@conception-rs.com.br
authors: Fábio Firmbach
authors: FF
authors: Pasqualotto
authors: Antônio Marmo
authors: AM
authors: Lucon
authors: Plínio Moreira
authors: PM
authors: de Góes
authors: Bernardo Passos
authors: BP
authors: Sobreiro
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Hallak
authors: Eleonora Bedin
authors: EB
authors: Pasqualotto
authors: Sami
authors: S
authors: Arap
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone