Effects of Varicocelectomy on Anti-sperm Antibody in Patients with Varicocele.
BACKGROUND
Anti-sperm antibody (ASA) can decrease sperm motility and, therefore, it is a cause of male infertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of varicocelectomy on anti-sperm antibody in patients with varicocele.


METHODS
This observational study was conducted on 90 patients with varicocele at Sina and Imam Khomeini hospitals during 2006 to 2009. All varicocelectomy candidates were selected for ASA assessment both in semen and serum before and after surgery. ASA level was measured using a direct method for semen and an indirect method of Sperm MAR test, for serum. Paired t-test and McNemar's test were used for data analysis, and p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.


RESULTS
ASA level in semen was 13.7% before, and 15.7% after three month of varicocelectomy (p=0.881). Serum level of ASA before and after surgery were 13.6% and 21.7%, respectively (p=0.033). Three parameters including sperm count, motility and morphology showed recovery following, varicocelectomy, but only the difference in sperm motility was significant (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that varicocelectomy has no effect on semen ASA. Although serum antibody has been shown to increase after varicocelectomy but sperm motility will improve. Varicocelectomy seems to have a beneficial effect on semen parameters in infertile men with varicocele.
Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran ; Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Mohammad Reza
MR
Bonyadi
Sayyed Kazem
SK
Madaen
Maryam
M
Saghafi
Anti-sperm Antibody; Infertility; Sperm Motility; Varicocelectomy