title: Prevalence of Varicocele among Primary and Secondary Infertile Men: Association with Occupation, Smoking and Drinking Alcohol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Existing data suggests that varicocele plays a central role in progressive infertility.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to assess the occupational and lifestyle factors of development of varicocele among male infertile, for a better prevention and management of the varicocele.
  
  
  METHODS
  All males with infertility, who presented at Fatemezahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center between April 2010 and February 2011, were examined. Their occupations, smoking, and drinking alcohol, presence or absence of varicocele were evaluated. The lifestyle factors associated with varicocele were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data of 816 men, aged 21-71 years, were included in the study. Two hundred and sixty-one men (32%) with varicocele and 555 (68%) without varicocele were found. Percentage of varicocele was significantly higher in smokers compared with non-smokers (P = 0.035). The adjusted OR for varicocele in smokerswas significantly higher than that in non-smoker (OR = 2.420; 95% CI = 1.04, 5.61). No significant differences were seen between varicocele and occupation or alcohol drinking for the prevalence of varicocele.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of the present study indicated that a high frequency of varicocele was indentified among male infertile. Therefore, it is necessary for those male cigarette-smokers to evaluate their possibilities of infertility and varicocele.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Fatemezahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shafi
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fatemezahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Seddigheh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esmaeilzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Midwifery, Fatemezahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Mouloud Agajani
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Delavar
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fatemezahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh Hosseinpour
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Haydari
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fatemezahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Neda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahdinejad
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fatemezahra Infertility and Reproductive Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
authors.forename: Sharare
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abedi
keywords: Alcohol drinking; Infertility; Male; Occupations; Smoking; Varicocele