title: The significance of microsurgical varicocelectomy in the treatment of subclinical varicocele.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the improvement of seminal characteristics and pregnancy rates after microsurgical varicocelectomy in men with subclinical varicocele.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University infertility clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty-three patients with a subclinical left-sided varicocele.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who agreed to microsurgical varicocelectomy (n = 25, surgery group), medical treatment with L-carnitine (n = 93 drug group), and those who did not agree to any treatment (n = 25, observation group) were enrolled.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen characteristics were reevaluated twice 6 months after treatment. The natural pregnancy rates were estimated by telephone interview between 1 and 2 years after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the surgery group, sperm counts improved significantly after microsurgical varicocelectomy. In the drug group, however, sperm parameters did not significantly improve after treatment. Natural pregnancy rates were 60.0% in the surgery group, 34.5% in the drug group, and 18.7% in the observation group. The natural pregnancy rate of the surgery group was higher than the other groups, and there were statistically significant differences among the three groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical treatment is the best option for management of subclinical varicocele.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Cheil General Hospital, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. jtandro@cgh.co.kr
authors.forename: Ju Tae
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Kyung Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Hoan
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Won Tae
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002331:Carnitine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009929:Organ Size; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013085:Spermatic Cord / Q000293:injuries; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D013519:Urogenital Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D002331:Carnitine