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Related Experiment Videos

Varicocele: a bilateral disease.

Yigal Gat1, Gil N Bachar, Zvi Zukerman

  • 1Andrology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tiqva affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Fertility and Sterility
|February 18, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Varicocele, often seen as unilateral, is frequently bilateral in infertile men, affecting 80.7% of cases. Advanced imaging detects more varicoceles than physical exams, impacting treatment strategies for male infertility.

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Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Radiology
  • Reproductive Medicine

Background:

  • Varicocele is a common cause of male infertility.
  • Traditionally considered a unilateral condition, its bilateral prevalence is debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of varicocele in the left and right spermatic veins in infertile men.
  • To compare the diagnostic accuracy of various examination methods for varicocele detection.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective study involving 286 infertile men.
  • Utilized physical examination, contact thermography, Doppler sonography, and venography.
  • Assessed semen parameters and pregnancy rates post-embolization.

Main Results:

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  • Varicocele was detected in 89.2% of patients.
  • Bilateral varicocele was found in 80.8% of cases, significantly higher than unilateral left (17.6%) or right (1.5%).
  • Embolization improved sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, leading to a 43.5% pregnancy rate.

    • Conclusions:

    • Varicocele exhibits a high bilateral prevalence, suggesting it should be viewed as a bilateral disease.
    • Noninvasive imaging techniques (venography, thermography, sonography) are more sensitive than physical examination.
    • Patients with unilateral varicocele require thorough evaluation for bilateral involvement to optimize infertility treatment.