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Differences in the clinical characteristics between young and elderly men with varicocoele

S-S Chen1

  • 1Division of Urology, Taipei City Hospital Renai branch, Department of Urology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine. eric.yoyo@msa.hinet.net

International Journal of Andrology
|March 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Elderly men with varicocoele show distinct clinical characteristics, including lower testosterone and higher FSH/LH levels, especially when infertile and with bilateral varicocoele. This highlights age-related differences in varicocoele impact on male fertility.

Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Andrology
  • Reproductive Medicine

Background:

  • Limited clinical data exists for elderly men diagnosed with varicocoele.
  • Varicocoele is a common cause of male infertility, affecting sperm quality and hormone levels.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare the clinical characteristics of varicocoele in young versus elderly men.
  • To identify differences in hormonal profiles, semen quality, and varicocoele presentation based on age.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective chart review of 169 young (18-30) and 156 elderly (45-55) men with varicocoele.
  • Inclusion of 30 age-matched controls without varicocoele.
  • Comparison of body mass index (BMI), semen parameters, hormone levels (FSH, LH, testosterone), testicular volume, varicocoele grade, and Doppler ultrasound findings (PRF, MVD).

Main Results:

  • Elderly men had higher bilateral varicocoele incidence (25.5% vs 14.8%) and lower unilateral right varicocoele incidence (2.6% vs 7.7%).
  • Infertile patients with varicocoele exhibited lower BMI, testicular volume, semen pH, testosterone, and higher FSH, LH, and PRF compared to fertile counterparts.
  • Infertile elderly men with varicocoele had significantly lower testosterone and higher FSH/LH than infertile young men; those with bilateral varicocoele had the lowest testosterone.

Conclusions:

  • Age significantly influences the clinical presentation and hormonal profile of men with varicocoele.
  • Infertile elderly men with varicocoele, particularly those with bilateral varicocoele, present with more severe hormonal imbalances, notably lower testosterone levels.

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