Significant decrease in sperm deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation after varicocelectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To measure sperm DNA integrity values before and after varicocelectomy in patients with elevated preoperative levels of sperm DNA fragmentation.


METHODS
Retrospective.


METHODS
Private urology clinic.


METHODS
Eleven patients with grade 1, 2, or 3 varicocele.


METHODS
Varicocelectomy.


METHODS
Sperm DNA fragmentation values were assessed before and after varicocelectomy.


RESULTS
Ninety percent of the patients showed a significant decrease in sperm DNA fragmentation levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Although this study was small, 10 of the 11 patients with varicocele showed a significant decrease in sperm DNA fragmentation after varicocele repair. Elevated sperm DNA fragmentation has been shown to have a significant negative effect on pregnancy outcome with use of in vivo, IUI, routine IVF, and to a lesser extent intracytoplasmic sperm injection fertilization; therefore pregnancy outcome may improve after varicocelectomy.
Werthman
Philip
P
Center for Male Reproductive Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Wixon
Regina
R
Kasperson
Kay
K
Evenson
Donald P
DP
D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male; D014646:Varicocele / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*