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Published on: August 23, 2024
Role of varicocelectomy in men with nonobstructive azoospermia
Peter N Schlegel1, Jeremy Kaufmann
1Department of Urology, New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, USA. pnscleg@med.cornell.edu
Objective:
To evaluate the benefits of varicocelectomy in men with nonobstructive azoospermia.
Design:
Retrospective review of effect of prior varicocelectomy on sperm retrieval rates in men with nonobstructive azoospermia. Chart review of men with nonobstructive azoospermia who underwent microsurgical varicocelectomy to determine the effect of the procedure on the need for testicular sperm extraction (TESE).
Setting:
Tertiary, university-based referral center.
Patient(S):
Men with clinical varicoceles and nonobstructive azoospermia.
Intervention(S):
Microsurgical varicocelectomy, TESE.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Return of sperm to the ejaculate and need for TESE after varicocele repair, ability to find sperm using microdissection TESE.
Result(S):
Of 31 men who underwent varicocele repair at one institution for documented nonobstructive azoospermia, 7/31 (22%) had sperm reported on at least one semen analysis postoperatively. However, only 3/31 (9.6%) men after varicocele repair had adequate motile sperm in the ejaculate for ICSI, without TESE. Sperm retrieval rates for men with varicoceles were not affected by a history of prior varicocelectomy.
Conclusion(S):
Men with clinical varicoceles that are associated with nonobstructive azoospermia will rarely have adequate sperm in the ejaculate after varicocele repair to avoid TESE. A history of prior varicocele repair does not appear to affect the chance of sperm retrieval by TESE for men with clinical varicoceles and nonobstructive azoospermia. The benefits of varicocelectomy in men with nonobstructive azoospermia may be less than previously reported.
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