Varicocele and male subfertility

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Andrology
• Radiology

Background:

• Varicocele is a common cause of male infertility.
• Subclinical varicoceles, undiagnosed by physical examination, may contribute to infertility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of subclinical varicocele in men with stress-pattern semen.
• To evaluate the utility of transjugular venography in diagnosing and potentially treating subclinical varicocele.

Main Methods:

• Internal spermatic venography was performed on 30 men with stress-pattern semen and normal endocrine profiles.
• Transjugular venography was utilized for its low morbidity and therapeutic potential.

Main Results:

• Subclinical varicocele was identified in 10 of 30 men (33%).
• Seven of these 10 men (70%) had no clinical evidence of varicocele.
• Right-sided varicoceles were found to be nearly as common as left-sided ones.

Conclusions:

• Subclinical varicocele is prevalent in men with infertility and normal endocrine status.
• Right-sided varicoceles may contribute significantly to bilateral varicocele effects.
• Transjugular venography is a valuable tool for diagnosing subclinical varicoceles and offers a minimally invasive treatment option.