Is it worthwhile to operate on subclinical right varicocele in patients with grade II-III varicocele in the left testicle?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether repair of subclinical varicoceles in the right testicle results in significant seminal improvement in patients with clinical left varicocele.


METHODS
Patients were divided into two groups: Group I (unilateral varicocelectomy) and Group II (bilateral varicocelectomy-subclinical left varicocele). The mean sperm concentration before treatment was higher in Group I (21.01 +/- 19.1) compared to Group II (5.7 +/- 10.7) (p = 0.04).


RESULTS
An increase in volume was detected in the left testicle of patients in Group I (17 +/- 7.9 vs. 22.81 +/- 8.2; p = 0.04) and in the right testicle of patients in Group II (18.4 +/- 6.2 vs. 22.3 +/- 6.5; p = 0.04). Although the mean postoperative sperm concentration in Group I increased slightly (25.7 +/- 22.8), the mean sperm concentration in Group II increased significantly (30.32 +/- 9.8; p = 0.03). Pregnancy rate was higher in Group II (66.7%) compared to Group I (33.3%).


CONCLUSIONS
Even a small, subclinical unrepaired varicocele continues to have a detrimental effect on bilateral testis function in a patient with grade II-III left varicocele.
Pasqualotto
Fáibio Firmbach
FF
University of Caxias do Sul, RS, Brazil.
Lucon
Antônio Marmo
AM
de Góes
Plínio Moreira
PM
Sobreiro
Bernardo Passos
BP
Hallak
Jorge
J
Pasqualotto
Eleonora Bedin
EB
Arap
Sami
S
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014646:Varicocele / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*
D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone