[Early use of menotropin in the treatment of varicocele]

Varicocele is the most common disease in infertile men and varicocelectomy remains the main treatment. During the last years a lot of drugs have been proposed in association with surgery. The aim of this study is verify the effects of the association between menotropin and subinguinal varicocelectomy on sperm parameters and pregnancy rate.

60 patients with left varicocele were randomized in three groups of 20 patients: patients of group A were treated with menotropin since diagnosis for three months; patients of group B were treated with menotropin but started the treatment three months after surgical treatment; patients of group C were treated only with varicocelectomy. We have tested sperm parameters before and after three, six and twelve months from surgical treatment. After six and twelve months from varicocelectomy we have verified the pregnancy rates in the three groups.

After three months from surgical treatment, sperm parameters were significantly improved only in the group A (p < 0.05). After six months we have recorded a similar improvement even in the group B. After twelve months we have confirmed a significant improvement in groups A and B; the values were significantly higher than in the group C (p < 0.05). After six months the pregnancy rate was 42%, 25% and 22.2% respectively in the three groups. After twelve months we have recorded an important improvement of pregnancy rate in groups A and B (47% and 45% respectively) and a little improvement (27.7%) in group C.

Our data show a significant improvement of sperm parameters in the two groups treated with menotropin respect to the group treated with only varicocelectomy. It could be responsible for a similar improvement of the pregnancy rate. The association between varicocelectomy and early use of menotropin seem to improve testis functional rehabilitation.