title: Does an Association between the Idiopathic Left-Sided Varicocele and Eye Colour Exist?
abstract: The possible interrelation between male reproductive disorders and iris pigmentation is poorly understood. We have found a link between eye colour and the existence of adolescent varicocele. Therefore, we aimed to extend our investigation on the relationship between the eye colour and varicocele in adult men. 231 andrology outpatients from Caucasian origin were included in the study. The presence of varicocele, sperm disturbances, and the iris pigment of the patients were investigated. Left-sided varicocele was found in 93 adults. In the group of light-eyed men the prevalence of varicocele was significantly lower than among the dark-eyed men (15% versus 59.5%, P < 0.001). No associations were found between the eye colour and disturbances in semen parameters in males with varicocele (P = 0.419) and in those without varicocele (P = 0.586). The present results in adult men suggest that the prevalence of varicocele could be associated with the iris pigment. A possible genetic linkage between the eye colour and the susceptibility to some disorders like varicocele could not be excluded. However, the iris pigmentation seems not to have a direct relationship with the sperm disturbances.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University of Sofia, 2 Zdrave Street, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kumanov
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University of Sofia, 2 Zdrave Street, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Ralitsa
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4007-9713
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Robeva
authors.affiliation: Clinical Center of Endocrinology and Gerontology, Medical University of Sofia, 2 Zdrave Street, 1431 Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Analia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tomova