title: Does varicocelectomy affect DNA fragmentation in infertile patients?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of varicocelectomy on DNA fragmentation index and semen parameters in infertile patients before and after surgical repair of varicocele.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, 72 men with at least 1-year history of infertility, varicocele and oligospermia were examined. Varicocele sperm samples were classified as normal or pathological according to the 2010 World Health Organization guidelines. The acridine orange test was used to assess the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) preoperatively and postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  DFI decreased significantly after varicocelectomy from 34.5% to 28.2% (P = 0.024). In addition all sperm parameters such as mean sperm count, sperm concentration, progressive motility and sperm morphology significantly increased from 19.5 × 10(6) to 30.7 × 10(6), 5.4 × 10(6)/ml to 14.3 × 10(6)/ml, and 19.9% to 31.2% (P < 0.001) and 2.6% to 3.1% (P = 0.017). The study was limited by the loss to follow-up of some patients and unrecorded pregnancy outcome due to short follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Varicocele causes DNA-damage in spermatozoa. We suggest that varicocelectomy improves sperm parameters and decreases DFI.
authors: Department of Urology, Ankara University, School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Onur
authors: O
authors: Telli
authors: Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Urology, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Hasmet
authors: H
authors: Sarici
authors: Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Urology, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Mucahit
authors: M
authors: Kabar
authors: Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Urology, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Berat Cem
authors: BC
authors: Ozgur
authors: Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Clinic of Urology, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Berkan
authors: B
authors: Resorlu
authors: Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Akdeniz University, School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey.
authors: Selen
authors: S
authors: Bozkurt
keywords: Acridine orange test; DNA damage; male infertility; varicocele