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Left-sided grade 3 varicocele may affect the biological function of the epididymis

Mikael Lehtihet1, Stefan Arver, Bo Kalin

  • 1Department of Medicine/Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet and Centre for Andrology and Sexual Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital , Stockholm , Sweden.

Scandinavian Journal of Urology
|December 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Varicocele embolization significantly improved sperm count and motility in infertile men. The procedure also enhanced epididymal function, suggesting varicocele impacts more than just the testes.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Urology
  • Andrology

Background:

  • Varicocele affects 30-40% of infertile men, but its impact on semen quality and infertility is not fully understood.
  • Varicocele may impair sperm production or quality, necessitating better selection criteria for surgical repair.
  • Understanding varicocele's effects can improve clinical management for men with infertility and poor semen parameters.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of varicocele repair via embolization on semen quality and epididymal function.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of spermatic vein embolization in men with grade 3 varicocele and infertility.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 50 men with grade 3 varicocele and infertility.
  • Evaluation of semen parameters and epididymal markers before and 3 months after spermatic vein embolization.

Main Results:

  • Significant improvements observed in total sperm count (25.5 to 78 million) and sperm motility (31.5% to 45%).
  • Increased levels of alpha-glucosidase, an epididymis-specific protein, indicating improved epididymal function.
  • Reduction in sperm droplets, suggesting enhanced sperm maturation post-embolization.

Conclusions:

  • Spermatic vein embolization leads to significant improvements in semen parameters and epididymal function.
  • Left-sided grade 3 varicocele may negatively affect the epididymis, in addition to testicular function.
  • The findings support varicocele embolization as a treatment for infertility associated with compromised semen quality.
Abstract

Keywords:
epididymal functionhuman sperm morphologymale infertilitysemen analysisseminal parametersvaricocelevein embolization

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