title: Effect of surgical repair on testosterone production in infertile men with varicocele: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of surgical varicocele repair in improving testicular Leydig cell function as shown by increased testosterone production.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible studies were searched in Medline and the Pubmed database, and cross-referenced as of 31 May 2011 using the terms "varicocele,""testosterone" and "surgery." The database search, quality assessment and data extraction were independently carried out by two reviewers. Only studies including patients with testosterone evaluation before and after surgery were considered for the analysis. A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out for continues variables using random effect models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 125 studies, a total of nine were selected, including 814 patients. The combined analysis showed that mean serum testosterone levels after surgical treatment increased by 97.48 ng/dL (95% confidence interval 43.73-151.22, P=0.0004) compared with preoperative levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Surgical treatment of varicocele significantly increases testosterone production and improves testicular Leydig cell function.
authors: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery Related, Faculty of Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
authors: Fuping
authors: F
authors: Li
authors: Huanxun
authors: H
authors: Yue
authors: Kohei
authors: K
authors: Yamaguchi
authors: Keisuke
authors: K
authors: Okada
authors: Kei
authors: K
authors: Matsushita
authors: Makoto
authors: M
authors: Ando
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Chiba
authors: Masato
authors: M
authors: Fujisawa
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male; D014646:Varicocele / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone